55 Plus CNY, #115: February - March 2025

SPECIAL: RETIREES GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY P.24

Issue 115 February - March 2025 For Active Adults in Central New York

cny55.com

NEW YORK CITY MARATHON 10 YEARS LATER

L L L L A A H H Y Y E E K K C C O HO H R R E E M M A A OFF FF O res a o c s n o g l o D r Howard e n w o h c n u r unity m m o c d Syracuse C n a m h tea goaaaal! wit

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3

WE CARE WE CARE LIKE FAMILY LIKE FAMILY Become a part of WE CARE Become a p Our Family!

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We are growing and have exciting career opportunities in the health care industry.

We are growing and have exciting career To join our talented, professional team, please LOOKING FOR A NEW CAREER? opportunities in the visit one of our care facilities career pages forhealth care industry. available positions. To join our talented, professional team, please visit one of our care facilities career pages for available positions.

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315-342-4790 | www.mornings

Become Become aa part part of of Our Our Family!

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and personal relationships.

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Our Vision.

220 Tower Street, Waterville, NY 13480 315-342-4790 | www.morningstarcares.com and personal relationships.

RESIDENTIAL CARE C 315-841-4156 | www.watervillecares.com To redefine skilled nursing care through successful team development, use 220 Tower Street, Waterville, ofOur technology, progressive service andOur being aVision. strong community partner.

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Assisted Living Community Registered RESIDENTIAL CARE CENTER Our Team.

RESIDENTIAL CARE CENTER Licensed Nurses 132 Ellen Street, Oswego, NY 13126 Our Vision.

220 Tower Street, Waterville, NY 13480 Registered Nurses 315-343-0880 | www.thegardensbymorningstar.com Our Vision.

220 Tower Street, Waterville, NY 13480 A s s i s t e d L i v i n g C o m Physical Therapists 315-841-4156 | www.watervillecares.com To redefine skilled nursing care through successful team development, use 315-841-4156 | www.watervillecares.com Licensed Nurses 132 Ellen Street, Oswego, N To redefine skilled nursing care through successful team development, use Occupational of technology,Therapists progressive service andPhysical being aTherapists strong community partner.

315-343-0880 | www.thegardensby of technology, progressive service and being a strong community partner.

Speech Therapists Occupational Therapists Social Workers Our Team.

Aaron Manor Speech Therapists Our Team.

Recreational Therapists u enni tt ey r Registered Nurses R eA h asbsi il si ttaet d i o nL iavni dn gN uCros m i n gmC Assisted Living Community Registered Nurses Social Workers Dieticians M Licensed Nurses Ellen Street, 100132 St. Camillus Way,Oswego, Fairport,NYNY13126 14450 Aaron Licensed Nurses Recreational Therapists 132 Ellen Street, Oswego, NY 13126 R e h a b i l i t a t i o n a n d N u r s i 315-343-0880 | www.thegardensbymorningstar.com Nurse Aides 585-377-4000 | www.aaronmanor.com Physical Therapists 315-343-0880 | www.thegardensbymorningstar.com Physical Therapists Dieticians 100 St. Camillus Way, Fairport Occupational Therapists Occupational Therapists Nurse Aides 585-377-4000 | www.aaronm Speech Therapists Speech Therapists Social Workers Aaron Manor Social Workers

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FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025

CONTE N TS Features 13 Fitness

32 Dreams

18 Running

36 Cover

22 New Year

42 TheVoice

Shake off the post-holiday doldrums by getting out and getting fit.

Maryann Roefaro runs in the New York City marathon, 10 years after completing the race for the first time.

Now’s the time to plan to make this year your most organized yet.

Jesse Kline, acting director of the Auburn Downtown Business Improvement District, makes an impression.

Hockey hall of famer — Syracuse Crunch owner Howard Dolgon scores a goaaal! with team and community.

The man behind the voice: Dave Allen, host of ‘Syracuse’s Morning News with Dave Allen.’

24 Volunteering

46 Aging in Place

Retirees give back to the community.

The overlooked downsides of aging in place.

31 Books

49 Investing

Book Buddies: Group puts the fun back into reading.

6

55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025

Nest egg: Think hard before you raise your risk.

Locally Ow n U.S. Paten ed ted Apply Topical Lotion/Medications and try the Famous Shower Scrubby with this applicator you can use all by yourself!

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FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

7

Columns

More Contents 48 Living Senior community? What’s in it for you?

10 Savvy Senior How long you should keep tax records and other documents.

50 First Person So this is 70! Self-care, family connections, meaningful work and pursuing my passions all help set a course through this decade.

52 Activities When it’s cold outside, have fun inside. Region has wide variety of options.

11 Social Security Q&A Answers to readers’ questions.

18

Pastabilities: Restaurant twinkles with promise of good warm meals during winter months.

Laurie Deyo, 70, has been non-stop since she trained and worked then brought all that experience to Syracuse in 1984.

34 Aging

58 My Trip to Greece

Marilyn Pinsky: When did potty mouth become everyday speech?

Writer Joe Sarnicola and his wife traveled to Greece in the fall — and share the experience.

60 Your Health

66 Last Page

On the Cover SPECIAL: RETIREES GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY P.24

Issue 115 February - March 2025 For Active Adults in Central New York

cny55.com

NEW YORK CITY MARATHON

L LL AL HA YH EY KE CK OC HO H R R E E M M A A F OFF F O es a ard Dolgon scor nch owner How Syracuse Cru with team and community goaaaal!

Uncork potential possibilities.

14 Dining Out

54 Dance

All about the stars — John Zielinski, a retired visiting assistant professor at SUNY Oswego, returns to the Rice Creek Field Station’s observatory February and March to lead free public telescope observation sessions.

12 Gardening

52 54

Understanding kidney stones, types and treatments.

58 Life After 55 Ribbon time: A Christmas gift brings all the memories about old typewriters.

64 Druger’s Zoo Incidents that make a difference.

Story ideas? Email editor@cny55.com or call 315-342-1182.

To subscribe to the magazine, look for coupon inside.

Don’t wait to get the care you need. When you visit the St. Joseph’s Health Cardiovascular Institute, you can expect the best. They’re rated high-performing in more heart procedures than all other area hospitals.* You’ll be back home and feeling better in no time. *U.S. News & World Report

A H I G H E R L E V E L O F C A R E | sjhsyr.org/cvi

© 2024 St. Joseph’s Health. © 2024 Trinity Health. All rights reserved.

SJH10468_CVI-FY23-55-Plus-7.25x10-V1.indd 1

1/9/24 11:38 AM

savvy senior

By Jim Miller

A

How Long to Keep Tax Records and Other Documents

s we get older and our financial life gets more complicated, it’s difficult to know how long to keep old financial records and paperwork and when it’s safe to get rid of them.

Some things you’ll need to hold on to for your whole life and others for just a month or so. Here’s a checklist I’ve created that can help you determine what to save and what you can throw away.

Keep One Month • ATM receipts and bank-deposit slips, as soon as you match them up with your monthly statement.

• Credit card receipts after you get your statement, unless you might return the item or need proof of purchase for a warranty.

• Credit card statements that do not have a tax-related expense on them.

• Utility bills when the following month’s bill arrives showing that your prior payment was received. If you wish to track utility usage over time, you may want to keep them for a year, or if you deduct a home office on your taxes keep them for seven years.

Keep One Year • Paycheck stubs until you get your W-2 in January to check its accuracy.

• Bank statements (savings and checking account) to confirm your 1099s.

• Brokerage, 401(k), IRA and other investment statements until you get your annual summary (keep longer for tax purposes if they show a gain or loss).

• Receipts for health care bills in case you qualify for a medical deduction.

Keep Seven Years Supporting documents for your taxes, including W-2s, 1099s, and receipts or canceled checks that 10

55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025

substantiate deductions. The IRS usually has up to three years after you file to audit you but may look back up to six years if it suspects you substantially underreported income or committed fraud.

Keep Indefinitely • Tax returns with proof of filing and payment. You should keep these for at least seven years, but many people keep them forever because they provide a record of your financial history.

• IRS forms that you filed when making nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA or a Roth conversion.

• Retirement and brokerage account annual statements as long as you hold those investments.

• Defined-benefit pension plan documents.

• Savings bonds until redeemed.

• Loan documents until the loan is paid off.

• Vehicle titles and registration information as long as you own the car, boat, truck, or other vehicle.

• Insurance policies as long as you have them.

• Warranties or receipts for bigticket purchases for as long as you own the item, to support warranty and insurance claims.

Keep Forever Personal and family records like birth certificates, marriage license, divorce papers, Social Security cards, military discharge papers and estateplanning documents including a power of attorney, will, trust and advanced directive. Keep these in a fireproof safe or safe-deposit box.

Reduce Your Paper To reduce your paper clutter, consider digitizing your documents by scanning them and converting them into PDF files so you can store them on your computer and back them up onto a cloud like Microsoft OneDrive, Apple iCloud or iDrive.

cny55.com Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto Associate Editor Stefan Yablonski Writers & Contributors Deborah J. Sergeant, Mary Beth Roach, Joe Sarnicola, Norah Machia, Tim Bennett, Carol Radin, Maryann Roefaro, Edd and Cynthia Staton, Linda Goor Nanos, Carol Radin Columnists Marilyn Pinsky, Jim Sollecito Marvin Druger, Michelle Reed, Jim Miller, Julie McMahon Eva Briggs (M.D.) Advertising Amy Gagliano Pamela Roe Office Manager AnnMarie Cliff Layout & Design Angel Campos-Toro Cover Photo Chuck Wainwright 55 Plus: A Magazine for Active Adults in Central New York is published six times a year by Local News, Inc. at 185 E. Seneca St. P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126.

Subscription: $30 a year; $40 for two years © 2025 by 55 Plus: A Magazine for Active Adults in Central New York.

No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher.

How to Reach Us P.O. Box 276 Oswego, NY 13126

Phone: 315-342-1182 Fax: 315-342-7776 Email: editor@cny55.com Editor@cnyhealth.com

SOCIAL SECURITY

Joygerms Shout It From the Rooftops HOORAY! ‘GRAY’S’ O.K. (It’s More Than O.K.) Do Not Be Fooled by Gray Hair or Wrinkled Skin.

It Truly Belies What Lies Within!

External Appearances False Statements Make So Judge Me Not On Your Very First ‘Take’!

BEAUTY IS IN THE EYES OF THE BE-OLDER!

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www.hospicecny.org

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Your community's expert resource at the end of life, providing comprehensive comfort care to patients and families

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Proudly serving Cayuga, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties

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315-634-1100

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Q.: I worked for the last 10 years, and I now have my 40 credits. Does this mean that I can get the maximum Social Security retirement benefit?

A.: The 40 credits are the minimum number you need to be eligible for retirement benefits.

However, we do not base your benefit amount on those credits, but on your earnings over a lifetime of work. To learn more about how you earn Social Security credits and how they work, read, or listen to our publication “How You Earn Credits,” available at www.ssa. gov/pubs/EN-05-10072.pdf.

WISDOM • WARMTH • WIT

ty

Q.: I will rely on Medicare when I retire. Can you explain the different parts of Medicare?

A.: The different parts of Medicare cover your specific needs. There are 4 parts, all of which work in tandem to deliver healthcare services: • Part A (hospital insurance): This helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (following a hospital stay), some home health care, and hospice care.

• Part B (medical insurance): This helps pay for doctors’ and other health care providers services, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and many preventative services (such as screenings, shots or vaccines, and yearly wellness visits).

• Part C (Medicare Advantage plans): If you have Medicare Parts A and B, you can join a Medicare Advantage plan. Private companies offer Medicare Advantage plans, which are approved by Medicare.

These plans generally help you pay the medical costs not covered

by Medicare Part A and B. • Part D (prescription drug coverage): This helps pay for prescription drugs (including many recommended shots and vaccines).

ADVERTISE YOUR SERVICES AND PRODUCTS in 55 PLUS Connect with the fastest growing and most influential consumer group in CNY Published bi-monthly, 55 Plus Magazine is the most effective media for reaching the 55-plus market.

Call 315-342-1182 or email editor@cny55.com for advertising informaiton.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

11

gardening

By Jim Sollecito

Uncork Potential Possibilities

Cork tree grows in Portuguese cork forest.

This particular tree may be approaching 150 years in age but is still productive because of meticulous cultural care.

T

here comes a time we stop being the picture and become the frame.

Understanding our place in the natural order as we transition from the frantic center of attention to a more nurturing surround.

We know more because we have made many mistakes getting here.

Hopefully, we’ve learned something along the way.

In my own journey, I finally found 12

55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025

my rhythm when I realized that backward steps and even stillness are part of the dance. I want to continue doing things I enjoy because I want to know what it is like to do these things as I evolve.

Decades ago, on my way to North Africa, I side-tripped to Portugal just to see the orange clay tile roofs and cork oak forests. “Renewable resources” was not a common phrase at the time.

But I knew the bark of these trees was

peeled every nine or more years and made into stoppers for the world’s wines. Why nine? Because if they harvested sooner, the trees would die.

It may seem like standing still, but it is growth.

And unlike other forms of forestry harvesting, the production of cork does not involve the death of a tree.

Instead, trees 25 years and older are gently stripped by skilled cork peelers called “descorticadores,” leaving a strange but fascinating landscape of denuded trunks extending into the leafy crowns. Cork production has become an inter-generational industry with farmers still producing a crop from trees planted by their great-great grandfathers.

How did they track the harvest schedule before computers? Well, they followed that familiar method we all use… writing. By painting a big number on each trunk after it was peeled, the farmers knew how long to wait until it was time to re-peel that tree. Very sustainable.

This particular tree may be approaching 150 years in age, but it is still productive because of meticulous cultural care. In fact, the quality of the cork increases as the tree ages. But despite all that, eventually the tree’s useful output will cease.

We l i k e t o t h i n k o f l i f e a s inexhaustible. Yet everything ages.

And living things have a lifespan. I wonder if a tree feels its age. Where does time go? Well, it just keeps going.

I don’t want to be younger or hold onto who I was before. I want to age and celebrate aging with activities that strengthen my mind, body and spirit. Getting older is a blessing, not a curse. We are lucky to see things in Technicolor now.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

And like a fine wine, that is worth savoring.

Jim Sollecito is the first lifetime senior certified landscape professional in New York State. He operates Sollecito Landscaping Nursery in Syracuse. Contact him at 315-468-1142 or jim@sollecito.com.

A man on a snowshoeing walk at Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville.

Frosty Fitness

Shake off the post-holiday doldrums by getting out and getting fit

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

F

eel invigorated with a nip of frigid air and the sparkle of sun on snow at a variety of sites in the area that are perfect for skating, skiing and snowshoeing. Keeping your winter recreation local can help you engage in it more regularly. Enjoy ice skating in Syracuse, Oswego, Auburn and other parts of CNY. To find New York State Parks that permit ice skating, visit https://parks. ny.gov/parks and search for “Ice Skating” under the “Amenity” tab.

If you skate on a pond, play it safe. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, only trust solid ice that is at least three to four inches thick. This relates to walking on new, clear ice on nonrunning water. Ice thickness can vary depending upon many factors, including the distance from shore. Do not go skating on a pond alone.

Numerous venues in the area offer cross-country skiing/snowshoeing opportunities. These include: • H i g h l a n d F o r e s t ( w w w. onondagacountyparks.com/parks/ highland-forest) in Fabius • Osceola Tug Hill Cross Ski Center

(www.uxcski.com) in Camden • Green Lakes State Park (http:// nysparks.com/parks/172/fees-rates. aspx) • Beaver Lake Nature Center (www. onondagacountyparks.com/beaver) in Baldwinsville • Oneida Shores Park (www. onondagacountyparks.com/oneida) in Brewerton • Bear Swamp (https://dec.ny.gov/ places/bear-swamp-state-forest) in Sempronius.

• Baltimore Woods Nature Center (www.baltimorewoods.org/) in Marcellus • Winona Forest Recreation Area (www.winonaforest.com) in Boylston and Mannsville • Montezuma Audubon Center (www. fws.gov/refuge/montezuma) in Seneca Falls and Savannah • Great Bear Recreation Area (www. friendsofgreatbear.org) in Fulton • Sterling Nature Center (www. cayugacounty.us/Community/Parksand-Trails/Sterling) in Sterling Check the New York State Parks website at https://parks.ny.gov/ parks and search for “Snowshoeing/XCountry Skiing” under “Amenity” to

find many more places.

If downhill skiing is more your style, you don’t have to go to the Rockies or Vermont to get your fix. Try Camillus Ski Hill (https://camillusskihill. com/), Four Seasons Golf & Ski Center (www.fourseasonsgolfandski.com) in Fayetteville, Skaneateles Ski Club (www.skiskan.com), Cazenovia Ski Club (https://skicaz.com), Song Mountain Ski Resort (www.skicny.com/song/) in Tully, Labrador Mountain Ski Resort (www.skicny.com/) in Truxton, or Greek Peak Mountain Resort (https:// www.greekpeak.net/) in Cortland.

With the right motivation, you can get moving more often this winter.

Consider buying your own gear instead of renting it. You may feel more like strapping on skates, skis or snowshoes more frequently once you’ve invested in them.

Dress in warm layers and bring along a hot drink in a Thermos or stop for a coffee or hot chocolate afterwards.

Plan a regular outing with a family member or friend who enjoys the same activity — or who is at least willing to give it a shot. Camaraderie can help you stay moving.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

13

Dining Out - RESTAURANT GUIDE

PASTABILITIES

Syracuse restaurant twinkles with promise of good warm meals during winter months

By Julie McMahon

Interior of Pastabilities: It literally shines during the winter.

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55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025

Spiced-Pear and Apple Burrata ($16) is served with salted greens and nuts. The arugula and nuts all come together with the fruit and cheese to make for a flavorful, sweet and salty bite. This dish ended up being a comforting winter salad, one of the highlights of the meal.

Chicken Parmesan Special: Two large — breaded and fried — chicken breasts with melted mozzarella served atop a bed of linguine and tomato sauce.

P

astabilities literally shines d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r. T h e lighting display can be seen from the streets of Armory Square and entices customers to this already uber-popular downtown Syracuse restaurant.

Reservations are recommended at this hopping spot — and they’re easy to make online. The business uses the Toast application to handle its reservations and takeout orders. We were seated within five minutes of our reservation.

Of course, once seated, we started with spicy hot tomato oil, the restaurant’s famous staple and onthe-house appetizer, served with its homemade stretch bread. This is what we came for, we were reminded after our first bites. The oil is delightfully spicy with just the right kick of heat.

We each remarked that we had a different take on the heat, with one of us noting it had inspired perspiration, and the other barely affected at all.

Delicious, either way.

Both the spicy hot tomato oil and stretch bread can be purchased across the street at Pasta’s Daily Bread, for patrons to make their own takes on the restaurant’s popular dishes.

The tomato oil has taken on such a life of its own, it’s also available to purchase at many local grocery stores.

The restaurant in 2024 started making a spicier version that it sells too. For this and other reasons, the restaurant was featured on Food Network by Guy Fieri for the second time, in 2024.

Alongside the spicy hot tomato oil, we enjoyed a couple of drinks from Pastabilities’ lengthy drink menus with seasonal specials. We went for the Pom-Berry Sangria and a glass of Chianti.

The sangria ($14) was dry, tart and fruity — a good blend of winter spices highlighting the classic drink.

The Chianti was a nice Italian wine ($9), also dry and easy on the palate.

For an appetizer we ordered the Spiced-Pear and Apple Burrata ($16).

Some of the fruit in the dish was freshsliced, and the other fruit was reduced with balsamic vinegar and spices, making for a really tasty compote-like spread. The moist, delicate burrata pulled apart seamlessly. It was served with salted greens and nuts. The arugula and nuts all came together with the fruit and cheese to make for a flavorful, sweet and salty bite. This dish ended up being a comforting

winter salad, one of the highlights of the meal.

For our entrees, we chose the chicken parmesan special ($29) and a classic pasta, a fettucine with Hot Tom Alfredo ($21), which was a mix of the restaurant’s enterprise sauce and a classic alfredo.

This is in the section of the menu titled “Guest-Created Sauce Combinations” and it’s no wonder customers put these two sauces together. The hot tom oil makes for a spicy, modern twist on a classic Italian dish. Topped with Locatelli cheese, the dish is extra indulgent, but the spicy hot tomato oil cuts the alfredo, making it a little light and easier to digest what would be a very rich sauce.

This entrée highlighted that the spicy hot tomato oil in all its diversity really is a thing to behold.

The chicken parm was very good, too. Two large — breaded and fried — chicken breasts with melted mozzarella were served atop a bed of linguine and tomato sauce.

The chicken was breaded and fried to perfection. The tender and juicy meat with a light breading and sautee made for a lighter dish than it looked like with the two massive cuts of meat.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

15

Dessert: A salted caramel pot de crème and a well-made, coffee-shop quality cappuccino.

Fettucine with Hot Tom Alfredo ($21): A mix of the restaurant’s enterprise sauce and a classic alfredo.

Topped with Locatelli cheese, the dish is extra indulgent.

A nice healthy topping of mozzarella added moisture and a nice saltiness to the dish, making it melt in your mouth.

The sauce itself was fresh and light, a classic tomato sauce.

The pasta in both of our entrees was fresh and al dente, excellent, proving it really makes a difference to have fresh, homemade pasta.

The portions for both entrees were way too big to finish in one sitting.

If prices appear a bit high, know that you’ll end up going home with leftovers. Nothing is basic here — what appear as basic dishes have a special flare and are made in huge portions, so you won’t be disappointed.

Our bill came to just over $100 with drinks, an appetizer, entrees for two and a dessert. Our server Nikki was attentive and kind, checked in on us regularly but wasn’t intrusive.

Disco music played most of the dinner.

The din of other diners picked up throughout the night, to make for a lively atmosphere.

Everything came out quickly with a little bit of a wait for dessert. This gave us the perfect chance to digest and take in our surroundings.

We finished our meal with a light dessert, a salted caramel pot de crème ($7), which lived up to its name with the prominent flavor of salted caramel.

The dish was delightfully caramelforward in the drizzle on top and in the crème itself. We enjoyed a cappuccino ($5) along with dessert. It was wellmade, coffee shop quality.

Ultimately this salty, creamy, small but mighty dessert was the perfect ending for a delicious meal.

Pastabilities 315-474-1153 311 S. Franklin St. Syracuse, NY 13202 Lunch: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Dinner: Sunday through Thursday, 4 – 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4 – 10 p.m.

A glass of Chianti and the Pom-Berry Sangria are among the seasonal special drinks.

16

55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025

info@pastabilities.com pastabilities.com

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Convenient, comprehensive & world-class cancer care now in Camillus!

A new 21,000 square foot Cancer Center and Community Wellness Center is now open in Camillus at 5490 Cobbler Way! This modern, spacious new office replaces our Onondaga Hill location and Camillus Community Wellness Center – and offers a comprehensive range of services under one roof, with plenty of free parking. Use the QR code to learn more and see the services at our new Camillus location!

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FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

17

running

10 YEARS Later

Running the 2024 New York City Marathon … my second one in 10 years

By Maryann Roefaro

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55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025

Maryann Roefaro on Nov. 3 ran her second New York City Marathon.

Sex Is Good: Many in Their 70s and

55

Pediatrician Stuart Trust: 78 and

80s Still Hard at It Still Going Strong

PLUS Issue 56 April / May 2015

For Active Adults in the Central New York Area

John Spillett, Music Educator of the Year in 2014, Talks About Music, Teaching

MY FIRST MARATH0N

E

very time I see the Statue of Liberty, my heart warms as I think of my grandparents coming to Ellis Island more than 100 years ago, having the resilience to travel from Italy on a boat when they were just children.

As I sat on a ferry leaving Manhattan, on my way to Staten Island to run the 2024 New York City Marathon in November 2024, I had hopeful visions of the finish line that was waiting for me 26.2 miles away.

Ten years ago, I was surprised and honored to discover I was selected for the cover of 55Plus subsequent to running my first marathon at 55 years old. I will never forget the moment I crossed that finish line.

A marathon changes a person in ways they never expected. Today we see runners of all shapes, sizes and abilities at the start lines of marathons.

It’s an incredible challenge both physically and mentally and it teaches those who train and run that they are capable of so much more than they

Maryann Roefaro of Camillus never ran until she turned 53. Then, at 55, she completed her first marathon. Now she wants to spread the word about Chi Running, a technique she adopted

Priceless

Roefaro on the cover of 55 PLUS June-July 2015.

ever imagined. That self-realization never goes away. It lends faith and confidence in oneself forever. There’s a saying that goes like this: “There will be days when I don’t know if I can run a marathon, but there will be a lifetime knowing that I have.”

Since my “cover girl” appearance 10 years ago, I have completed six marathons and more than 50 half marathons. Testing myself once again, I wondered if I could tolerate more than 20 weeks of training at 65 years old and run the 2024 NYC Marathon for the second time. The NYC Marathon is one of the most spectacular running events on earth and to date it is the largest that has ever occurred around the globe, having more than 55,000 runners, cheered by more than two million spectators and supported by more than 10,000 volunteers!

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It is not an easy race — with bridges, inclines and a lot of turns — not to mention the late start for slower marathon finishers, a consequence from years of happy aging and slower running paces.

In summary, I took a train to take a subway to take a ferry to take a bus to the start line in Staten Island so I could run 26.2 miles back to Central Park where I left my hotel at 6:30 a.m.

My start time was 11:30 a.m. and I was tired before I started but somehow I ran for five hours and 44 minutes to cross that finish line — healthy and ecstatic, jumping up and down like a kid!

There were times during my training that I felt like I was pushing myself to my limits, thinking I must be nuts for wanting to complete a marathon at my age. As it turns out, there were 245 other women aged 65-69 across the globe doing the same thing. I finished 135 among the 245. As Vince Lombardi said, “Your body can stand almost anything. It’s your mind that you have to convince!”

I ran my first marathon in four hours and 29 minutes. I cared so deeply what my time was then. This time, I only cared about the finish. I never even looked at my watch. I stopped to talk and hug my family and friends, eat a banana, enjoy some peanut M&Ms and I just soaked in every moment of this incredible experience.

I am grateful beyond measure to my mind that never lost hope, to my body that responded to my requests and allowed me to push it to its limits, to my family who put up with my training and to a divine infrastructure that blessed my every step.

They say you don’t stop running because you’re getting older; you get older because you stop running.

Regardless of what challenges you are facing, have faith in yourself and know that we were born with everything we need within ourselves — and let love lead the way! Don’t wish for dreams to come true, create the conditions that will allow you to reach your goals.

Maryann Roefaro, 65, has been the chief executive officer at Hematology-Oncology Associates of Central New York for 23 years until her retirement in February 2025. She is an avid runner who started running at 53 and has completed six marathons and over 50 half marathons.

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55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025

NEARLY 20 YEARS

OF CELEBRATING LIFE AFTER 55 RADIO TA

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HOST JIM

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RETIREMEN

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Issue 108 ary 2024 2023– Janu December Adults in For Active York Central New

cny55.com

NEST HATCHES THE ROBIN’S MEMORIES QUILTS — AND

Subscribe today to 55 Plus, the only magazine serving active adults in CNY, and get it right to your front door!

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talk about and his wife Juli Juli Boeheims Coach Boeheim their Jim and year the work of which in nearly 25 300 ing to Foundation, million in fund has given $8.5nizations. nonprofit orga

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P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126

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FCMG reminds our senior patients to schedule an annual exam and stay in touch with your clinician afterwards! In addition to yearly physicals, we offer: • Endocrinology, including diabetes testing, care and education • Sleep lab and treatment of sleep disorders • Clinical Programs (Chronic Care, Palliative Care, Intensive Care and Transitional Care Management) • And so much more!

All provided in one of 30 comfortable, conveniently located, and family-friendly offices across CNY! Call 315.802.5178 or visit fcmg.org today!

Let our family care for yours!

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

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new year Get Organized in 2025 Now’s the time to plan to make this year your most organized yet

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

t’s the best possible time in your life for whipping your home into shape.

Your children are grown (maybe even flown!), you may be retiring soon if not already. And if

you’re considering downsizing in the future, getting your stuff tidied will make that job much easier.

Area experts offer their best tips for organizing.

Tips from Maureen McCarthy, owner of H.B.I.C. Declutter, LLC in Syracuse

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“Starting small with boundaries and time limits is the best way to begin.

Generally, projects like organizing or right sizing your life and home can be overwhelming. The new year is a perfect time to set some goals — small achievable objectives. If you are looking to purge your linen closet or kitchen junk drawer these are ideal places to start.

“Avoiding more sentimental or emotional situations in the beginning can keep the energy towards moving forward. Things like boxes of pictures, collectibles or family heirlooms are better left to a time when family and friends can help out. Often, time to process, engage and share memories is needed when you decide to tackle that project. Order the pizza, serve drinks and take a trip down memory lane with your loved ones. Having them there to help decipher what is valuable, functional and in reasonable condition will reduce some of the burden. Your 12-piece china set from your family is priceless to you. Knowing that it’s packed away safely in your attic is comforting but it’s not enjoyed. Think about donating it to your local soup kitchen or domestic violence shelter.

Keeping a couple of your favorite pieces to display proudly can be a

gentle reminder of those memories.

“Setting time limits can help you stay focused and avoid becoming overwhelmed. If you are able to designate one to four hours a week you will be able to make a noticeable difference in your situation.

“Remember to respect your boundaries to prevent burnout and avoidance. Setting a deadline can help you determine what timeline you will need to follow to succeed. Make it

reasonable, give yourself grace and ask for help.

“Research your options for donations, things to be disposed of and sale items.

“Decluttering hot spots like our dining tables or entryways can give visual motivation. If you find that your junk mail ends up in a large pile on your kitchen counter, something as simple as a small wicker basket will help. Choose a container that will give

you enough space to keep the mail tidy and not big enough to go a long period of time before you address it.

“Begin the habit of placing the mail in the basket immediately.

Once the basket is full choose a time that works for you and go through the mail. Having a simple process and maintaining that will create an organized scenario that you will want to experience more often.”

Tips from Liz Bremer, certified professional organizer and owner of Put it Simply Organizing, LLC in Manlius

“Usually at the beginning of the year, I talk about what systems they have in place, what is working and what is not.

“There’s typically the ‘launching pad’ and often people have a ‘landing pad’ for things leaving and coming into your home, but I don’t recommend having a ‘landing pad.’ A launching pad is a flat surface near the door where you leave. You place things there so you have a visual cue to take things like library books, your purse and keys, donations.

“Get rid of all the junk mail right

away. Ideally, have a place for mail so you can separate it by person in the household, so they know their box or bin has something in it.

“If you’re shopping, all the bags should be put away upon entry. That is one of the ways that clutters up homes the most. I find bags that haven’t even been opened in corners of rooms.

“A hands-on organizer can help you set up the system so clutter won’t happen again and we can help you go through the backlog and become independent of us.

“Identify the function of what

you want that catch-all or ‘junk room’ space to become. What needs to be removed from that space to make that happen? In terms of removal, we use the SPACE methodology created by Julie Morgenstern: Sort, Purge, Assign a home, Containers, Equalize.

“People don’t want to throw away mementos, but they don’t know what to do with them. They want to consolidate them and then we can assign them a home.

“With photos, there are often duplicates. Or blurry ones. Keep one picture of someone blowing out the candles, not 50. You need just one to revisit the memory. Keep only the best of the best.

“We don’t buy containers first.

We wait until we know what we’re keeping. The dimensions determine what we’re purchasing. Enter the containers’ dimensions on Amazon and we get it one day.

“Most of the time, my clients have containers they can repurpose. We walk around the house and ‘shop’ for containers they’re not using.

“One of the pitfalls of organizing is zigzagging around. What happens is we start in one area, try to put it away in another area, realize it won’t fit. So, you start organizing another area. Three hours go by and you’ve organized nothing. Just stay in one area. Have boxes and bins you put things in as you make decisions: trash, recycle, donate or put elsewhere. Sometimes piles get reincorporated into the space. You can use laundry baskets or Amazon boxes. At 20 minutes before the end of your organizing time, you’ll put things where they’ll go.”

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volunteering

RETIREES GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

O

ne of the best things about retirement for many people is having more time to give back to their communities. Studies have shown that staying connected with others is important for better physical and mental health in older adults.

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By Norah Machia Retirees have an advantage when it comes to volunteering because they have years of life experience to share with others.

Their sense of compassion and social responsibility may even encourage younger generations to follow in their footsteps.

Proving that you’re never too

old to make a difference, many retirees throughout Central New York have dedicated their free time to organizations and causes that reflect their lifelong passions.

Others have chosen to help in any way possible and their unique skill sets and experiences have proven to be highly valuable.

LAURA HAND

TV personality remains active by helping young kids, teaching Italian, working with service dogs

This past October, Laura Hand marked five years of retirement from CNY Central News, after a career of 47 years reporting, producing and anchoring newscasts on NBC 3, along with doing community relations work for the stations.

“I was determined to be active, believing that staying involved benefits mental and physical health,” she said. “My plan was to work with my therapy dog, helping preschoolers prepare for their education.”

However, the COVID-19 pandemic hit just a few months after Hand retired, so her initial retirement plans had to be modified.

“I jokingly called it two years of house arrest, but I was still able to stay active,” she said, particularly with gardening, which can be a solo activity.

During the pandemic, Hand maintained several flower beds on the road medians throughout Syracuse.

“Neighbors dropped off pots and plant containers that they’d normally throw away and I started taking them to the city greenhouse for re-use,” she said. As part of the Friends of Schiller Park, Hand and other volunteers landscaped an entryway to the pool area. “We are still planning to do more,” she added.

Hand is also committed to helping young children develop a love of reading, an effort she started more than 30 years ago. Now retired, she has more time to bring her child therapy dog, Moose, to library programs and early childhood classrooms.

“The children get hands-on experience with a dog that helps them learn colors, letters and mostly classroom manners,” she said.

“My dog, Moose, and I host Bark in the Parks for the Syracuse Mets, supporting area rescues and encouraging dog owners to bring their pets to the ballpark,” she added.

Hand also volunteers to teach at the Oasis Senior Education Program, sponsored by Upstate Medical University. “I’m a native Italian speaker and I decided to volunteer to help teach the language to adults, first on Zoom and now in person at Oasis in East Syracuse,” she said.

She says the key to a happy and healthy retirement is to “stay involved, do new things to stay mentally and physically in shape, and age with a purpose.”

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GIVING BACK

JAY AND JUDY TINKER

Tully couple helps burn survivors and their families

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For Jay and Judy Tinker of Tully, volunteering to help burn survivors and their families has allowed them to give back to a very personal cause. Jay himself suffered severe burns several years ago in a freak accident and faced a long and challenging recovery.

Judy, a retired occupational therapist, and Jay, a retired information technology specialist for a health care company, are trained SOAR (Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery) volunteers who support survivors recovering in the Clark Burn Center at Upstate Medical University. The national program is sponsored by the Phoenix Foundation, whose motto is “Nothing heals people like people.”

“There were a lot of people who helped me through my trauma and this allows me to give back to them,” said Jay, who can offer his support to patients at the burn center wishing to speak with a recovered survivor, while Judy can speak with the family members. “It helps with the healing process,” she said. “They can see my husband and know their life can get better.”

Jay’s accident happened in 2013 and caused severe burns on approximately 45% of his body. While pouring gas to set up a bonfire, he accidentally dropped the container, which hit a pocket in his cargo pants and ignited his cell phone inside. Jay sustained burns primarily on his arms and legs and received some flash burns on his face. He spent a month at the Clark Burn Center before being released and undergoing extensive rehabilitation at home.

The couple is also volunteer directors for Camp Triumph, a free summer camp for pediatric burn survivors sponsored by the Burn Foundation of Central New York and the Clark Burn Center Foundation.

The camp has been held at Beaver Camp in Lowville in recent years and free round-trip transportation from Syracuse has been provided.

The camp allows children to participate in boating, fishing, swimming and sailing activities.

“Volunteering keeps us active and keeps us going,” said Judy. Even more important, it has allowed the couple to share Jay’s traumatic recovery journey to help others.

GIVING BACK

CARY FASSLER

Former VA nurse enjoys work protecting the environment

Cary Fassler has spent much of his retirement enjoying the great outdoors surrounding his family home in a rural region of Oswego County.

“My wife and I had the opportunity to move back to the family property where I grew up,” said Fassler, who retired as a registered nurse at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Syracuse. “After attending a university and having a career, the love of the land called me back.”

The couple renovated a farmhouse and built additional space on the property in Amboy where Fassler was raised. “I know it well and love every square inch,” he said. One of his daughters and her husband purchased a home nearby, so he has been introducing his grandson to the joys of nature.

“I love to be out on my property,” said Fassler, who enjoys hiking and snowshoeing. The hundreds of acres surrounding his home include forests and wetlands with a variety of wildlife.

Several years ago, Fassler decided to volunteer on the board of directors for the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving land in the Tug Hill region.

Fassler had worked with the land trust to place a conservation easement on most of his property to protect it from future development.

“Placing a conservation easement on the property with the land trust helped us achieve our goal of permanently protecting our land,” he said. “As this area grows, we get satisfaction knowing that our efforts will enable future generations of both people and wildlife to enjoy this property.”

The land trust was a great fit for his volunteer work because its mission is to protect the wildlands, working forests and farms of the Tug Hill region and promote appreciation for the area’s natural and cultural heritage.

Through his volunteer work on the board, Fassler has helped introduce many people to the rural outdoors of Oswego County by guiding hikes and snowshoeing treks. “I have really enjoyed volunteering and the board’s mission of giving back to Mother Nature,” said Fassler, who recently finished his term on the land trust’s board of directors.

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GIVING BACK

LINDSAY AGNESS

Retiree was inducted into the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame in 2022 for her volunteering work

Lindsay Agness has spent many years fly fishing and her retirement allows her to spend even more time in the water.

“Now that I’m retired, I love the fact that I get up every morning and get to pursue my passion for fly fishing,” said Agness, who was inducted into the New York State Outdoorsmen 28

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Hall of Fame in 2022 for her devotion to “giving back” to the outdoor sports and conservation efforts. “Today, I spend my free time volunteering for a host of nonprofit organizations that bring me joy and life satisfaction through teaching.”

Agness retired as director of the enterprise project management office

at Rochester Regional Health System.

She became a New York state licensed fishing guide in 2011 and operates her own fly-fishing guide service, while volunteering for several nonprofit organizations.

One of her many volunteer projects occurs yearly on the Salmon River in Pulaski. Since 2015, Agness has volunteered as an instructor and guide with the Upstate Chapter of Casting for Recovery, a nonprofit organization that offers a unique retreat experience for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Each year, the retreat is held at the Tailwater Lodge in Altmar and offers education, peer support and the therapeutic sport of fly fishing for women experiencing different stages of cancer recovery.

“These ladies are inspiring, exuberant, fun, passionate and they live life at their fullest,” Agness said.

“I walk away from the retreats with a renewed sense of purpose, gratitude and joy in living.”

Her other passion in retirement is “teaching our youth about fly fishing, conservation and outdoors,” said Agness, who volunteers with the NYS Council of Trout Unlimited and has helped with youth activities and programs offered at 26 chapters statewide.

Her most recent volunteer effort is with the Mayflower Project, a nonprofit program designed to help change the lives of children in foster care by introducing them to fly fishing.

The mission is to “introduce them to their local community waters, with the hope that connecting them to a rewarding hobby will provide them an opportunity to have fun, build confidence and develop a meaningful connection with the outdoors,” she said.

“Spending time with our youth and teens is very rewarding now that I’m an empty nester myself,” said Agness, who has also been helping Girl Scout troops learn about the sport of fly fishing and conservation.

By combining volunteerism with her passion for fly fishing, “I’ve found a cause that lifts my spirit and helps my community,” she added.

GIVING BACK

JOHN RONAN

Carrier Corp. 92-year-old retiree still finds joys volunteering at the former Community General Hospital

At age 92, John Ronan has proven you’re never too old to volunteer.

Ronan retired in 1998 as a contract administrator for the Carrier Corp., Syracuse. Sadly, his wife died a few months later. That’s when Ronan decided it would be good for him to focus his time and energy on helping others. So he started volunteering at the former Community General Hospital, now the Upstate Community Hospital.

In his early days of volunteering, Ronan helped out in the emergency room, “changing stretchers and running errands to the labs,” he said. “But when everything became computerized, there wasn’t as much more for me to do in that area.”

He later switched to volunteering at the main entrance and soon became a familiar and friendly face to patients needing assistance finding their way around the hospital. “After they come in and register, I’m available to escort them to the surgery center or other areas of the hospital, if needed,” he said. “It’s a large building and sometimes people don’t know where to go.”

A l t h o u g h t h e re i s s i g n a g e throughout the hospital, “oftentimes it just helps to have a friendly face to lead the way,” Ronan said. “People appreciate having someone to talk to when they come into the hospital,” he said. “That’s what I find most rewarding. Besides, sometimes it’s easier to just walk with people than tell them to go right, go left, go straight.”

Ronan volunteers two days a week at the hospital. On Mondays, he assists at the hospital’s epilepsy monitoring unit, escorting patients to the third floor after registration, where they often stay through the week.

On Wednesdays, Ronan can be found at the hospital’s main entrance, escorting patients and visitors to numerous areas throughout the large building. “It’s rewarding to be able to help people, especially when they are coming into a hospital,” he said. “I also really enjoy working with my fellow volunteers. They’re all great people.”

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Janice Walter-Ferrick, a volunteer with the Book Buddies program, helps third-grader Analia Espinal. The program pairs adult volunteers with students from kindergarten through third grade to improve their reading skills through phonicsoriented reading practice.

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books

BOOK BUDDIES PUTTING THE FUN BACK INTO READING

By Mary Beth Roach

J

anice Walter-Ferrick was so pleased with her initial experience as a volunteer with the United Way of Central New York’s Book Buddies program over the spring, she decided to increase her time commitment. She is now volunteering two days a week.

The Book Buddies program, a collaborative effort between the United Way and the Syracuse City School District, pairs adult volunteers with students from kindergarten through third grade to improve their reading skills through phonics-oriented reading practice.

Walter-Ferrick started in January and worked with students at Dr. Weeks School, on the city’s northeast side for about five or six months. That she saw pretty significant progress inspired her to take on another day.

On one particular Thursday morning this past fall, the 61-year-old DeWitt resident was helping Analia Espinal, a third-grader at Dr. Weeks, who loves to read. Once the first half-hour session was complete with Analia, Walter-Ferrick was scheduled to work with a second student for another 30 minutes.

While they receive good instruction in the classroom, students need to practice and the Book Buddy volunteers can provide the motivation and support that students might need, according to Laurie Black, community educator director for the United Way. “Reading when you’re struggling is not productive to do it by yourself.

You need that attentive adult ear who can just keep you motivated, keep you excited and help you over those humps,” she explained.

Depending on a volunteer’s time commitment, they will work with the same one or two students over several months, in order for the volunteers to build a relationship with their students, Black explained.

It was easy to see that those relationships were already building that morning at Dr. Weeks.

Approximately 15 students came in on their lunch break with their food trays, eagerly looking for their respective Book Buddies partner. More than one student flashed a big grin when they spotted their buddy. They took their seats at the tables in the large instruction room and easily chatted with their buddy, before beginning their lessons and their lunches.

Walter-Ferrick decided to get involved after her mother, whom she’d been caring for, went into a memory care unit. She said she had time and wanted to get involved in a community effort.

“I’ve always felt that it’s really important to get involved, to volunteer,” she said.

There are scores of Central New Yorkers, like Walter-Ferrick, who have signed up for Book Buddies as volunteers, but more are needed.

The program, according to Black, works with approximately 25 students per grade level. That translates to 100 students per school, multiplied by

six schools. Adding that sixth school to the roster this year, prompted the United Way to put out the call for more volunteers.

Book Buddies began in 2014 at the Seymour Dual Language Academy; followed by Delaware Primary; Roberts Pre-K through 8; STEAM at Dr. King; and Dr. Weeks Elementary.

McKinley-Brighton Elementary was added this year.

The volunteers program range in age from 18 to some who are in their 80s, Black said. Many are retired. Walter-Ferrick, however, is self-employed in the home-health care field and can create her own schedule.

To become a Book Buddy is a threestep process, involving a background check, which is administered by the Syracuse City School District; training; and then putting the volunteers in the schools. United Way provides staff at each of the sessions who put out the lesson materials and support the volunteers.

During the training sessions, Black said she often asks the volunteers why they opted to become involved and the responses run the gamut — they want to continue to be productive in retirement, they like kids, they like to read and they were looking for way to give back.

“There’s an amazing array of our community members that are looking for something to plug into,” Black said.

For those interested in plugging into Book Buddies, visit https:// cnybookbuddies.org.

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dreams

Jesse Kline Followed Her Dream

Acting executive director of the Auburn Downtown Business Improvement District makes an impression

By Joe Sarnicola

J

esse Kline, of Auburn, has always been artistic.

“I struggled to identify my media, [but] I finally discovered I am a decorative artist rather than a fine artist.”

The process of that discovery began when she was very young. She would draw and color pictures and display them in her room. In her teens she would collect objects and furniture pieces she found interesting and she would carefully arrange them in her room.

She took as many high school art classes as she could, and that training led to a dual master’s degree in art history and museum studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.

She now works as an independent 32

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interior decorator as well as being the acting executive director of the Auburn Downtown Business Improvement District, an agency that promotes and markets the Auburn community.

One of Kline’s most personal and continually evolving projects is the house she grew up in, which she had bought from her parents. She has transformed her home by turning the 1980s-looking rooms into colorful artistic statements.

“I added some major punch and color by hiring local artists Alan Alger, Blake Chamberlain, Peter Mack and Heather Bruno-Sears. I hired an amazing contractor, Paul Elise, to build a copper-topped bar, which is now the focal point of my home,” she said.

She likes to joke that her home

is called the “hotel no tell,” because of the parties she has hosted, but renovating it to make it party-ready was a complicated process.

“When I reclaimed the house I grew up in, the walls were all white with track lighting everywhere. There was exposed lathe in the stairwell and exposed beams in the downstairs bedroom. The wall between the kitchen and the parlor made both rooms very dark. Turns out, white is a perfect backdrop to add tons of color and pattern! The only question is how far to go,” she said.

The work involved installing new drywall and replacing light fixtures before some of the decorating could begin. She loves to go to thrift stores, garage sales and antique shops looking for items to use in her own home or in the homes of some of her clients.

Sometimes she even finds items to use or repurpose in the homes of her clients that they may have forgotten about or put into storage. She views each project as a whole, so that every room tells part of the same story, with the emphasis being on herself as an artist first and a decorator second.

Somehow, back in 2007, word of her home reached the producers of an HGTV program called “Offbeat America,” which, according to Kline,

Jesse Kline has transformed her home by turning the 1980s-looking rooms into colorful artistic statements. “showcases unique and creative residences across the country,” and it was featured in the premier episode of the show.

This segment can still be viewed by searching for Jesse Kline and Offbeat America on Youtube, as well on her website, www.jessekline.com.

During the period when she was unsure which direction to take with her art, she consulted Mary Anne Giacona, owner of the Center4Wellness in Auburn. Giacona asked her to describe her ideal and the answer came out quickly, “Interior decorating.”

“After that, I started building a data base of clients, a collection of before and after photos and a web presence,” Kline said.

Her website contains examples of her public, commercial and residential art, a brief biography and contact information.

She likes to repurpose and recycle items, which saves money and reduces waste.

“My strength is working with what people have and lot of the work is just editing,” she explained. “The budgets you often see on TV shows are not realistic for most people.”

Two other people she said inspired or encouraged her were professor Daniel Reiff of Fredonia College,

where she took some courses and Susan Marteney, who hired her as an intern at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn.

“I also did an internship at The Adams Art Gallery in Dunkirk, New York. I really enjoyed working in museums, but it seemed graphic design was a part of every job I’ve done,” she added.

With the financial support of Guy Consentino and the Stardust Foundation, Kline went to Philadelphia with another local artist and friend, David Tobin, for training in mosaic murals at a workshop led by Isaiah Zagar, a Philadelphia based mural artist. Within a month of completing the training, they were both working with other artists and volunteers on a mural in Auburn. The first one being for a historic local business, Angelo’s Pizza.

“One project led to another,” she said “The community comes out to help and it gives them a sense of ownership. Visitors to Auburn really like the public art.”

T h e N e w Yo r k D o w n t o w n Revitalization Initiative has provided funding for several of these projects.

“We have engaged hundreds of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to create public art in downtown. We

have numerous projects under our belt, and more in the hopper,” she said.

Although she is now the acting executive director of the BID, she has worked there since 2010. Promoting local history, art and tourism has always been important to her, having previously worked for the Cayuga County Office of Tourism and served on Auburn’s Historical and Cultural Sites Commission. Her current position involves public art projects, event planning, communications and marketing and curating local art shows.

Independently, she created and led Art for Auburn in 2010, an initiative that has completed more than 20 projects that include sculptures, murals, painted planters and signage.

She is also a three-time New York State Council on the Arts Grant recipient and a member of the Finger Lakes Art Council, whose mission is to create “an environment that supports, fosters, provides and promotes inclusive arts programming, open to all residents, artists and visitors, throughout the Finger Lakes Region.”

She summed up her life as an artist with this statement, “I followed my dream of being an interior decorator.”

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aging

By Marilyn L. Pinsky

When Did Potty Mouth Become Everyday Speech?

T

here I am, standing on a checkout line.

The person behind me is a presentable looking adult talking on the phone, neatly dressed, sort of a soccer dad type, assumably on a routine business call.

Suddenly he starts spouting sentences filled with the “F” word and a few of its variations, including the maternal one.

This checkout line is at the grocery store, not a porn shop where you might expect such language. I mean not that I actually hang out around porn shops that much to know if they do or don’t swear, but presumably one does have to do research (though personally I am learning to play Canasta just so you know I have other things to do.)

Also it would not be a good look for their business having older women hanging out there. And getting kicked out of a porn shop would just be so demoralizing. I mean, I imagine it would be.

But I digress.

Coincidentally, around the time of that incident, and it was only one of many from gas stations to doctors’ offices, I was taking a ‘70s film course and the instructor, Jeff Ryder, brought up the issue of how movies have influenced culture.

Ryder was director of casting at NBC, director of mini series at NBC, vice president of daytime programming at NBC. Then vice president of movies for television at MGM Television. And for those of us who love television dramas, he was co-head writer at “Guiding Light,” executive story editor at “Dynasty,” associate head writer at “Loving ABC” and for “Riviera,” a European drama.

In a total career switch, Ryder became associate dean of the College of Media, Art and Design at University of the Arts in Philadelphia and prior to that was director, writing for film/TV at 34

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the college.

We discussed what the rules were for language in movies when many of us were growing up.

“The studios were worried that when talkies came into being in the late ‘20s, there was a lot more sexuality in the story lines and more semi-nudity in the form of scantily dressed females,” said Ryder.

They feared that the government would impose standards of decency on the industry, so to get a jump on that they created their own censoring mechanism. Known as the ‘Hays Code’ it was in operation from 1934 to1968 and was essentially a self-censorship series of regulations and policies. But neither language nor violence was their fear. They were worried about having their movies censured over nudity and compromising positions.

“Over a period of about 54 years standards were beginning to be loosened and the studios were allowing more sexuality,” explained Ryder. “Violence was still not an issue, but it was being controlled. Then the language started to loosen up. You heard more damns in the films.”

In 1967, Warner Brothers was

ready to release their version of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” and the Hays office objected to the language in the film — a few “son of a bitches,” “damns” and sexual connotations language, such as “hump the hostess.”

Not usual movie language up to that point. Apparently Jacqueline Kennedy wrote a hand written letter advocating for the film and asking that they not oppose its release and ultimately the Hays office capitulated.

At that time also, Jack Valenti was the new president of the Motion Picture Association and he was very close with President Lyndon B. Johnson. Instead of the Hays Code, Valenti instituted a rating system which we still have today. There were four levels of motion picture ratings: G for general viewing, PG13 for parental guidance and may be inappropriate for under 13 year olds, R restricted for adult material and 17 and older and X — no one under 18.”

Was television under the same commission or something similar?

“No,” said Ryder. “TV was and continues to be under regulation from the Federal Communications Commission; but it has limited

oversight over program content.

Paid cable and streaming don’t have to adhere to the same standards as consumers have the choice of paying for the content, so those two mediums are not considered public. In the 2004 Super Bowl ‘wardrobe malfunction incident’ with Janet Jackson, known as “Nipplegate,” the FCC fined CBS for indecency but lost.

“But network TV is definitely looser than it was in the 1960s. Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore as a married couple in the “Dick Van Dyke” show could not even sleep in the same bed.

“Dynasty” in every couple of shows could say the word “bitch.”

And in the last 10 years things are even looser. We hear “damns” more frequently also. But never the “S” or “F” words, so there are still some limits.

“In film, in terms of violence, the Hays Office allowed Warner Brothers to release “Bonnie and Clyde” in 1967 despite the bloody, slow motion massacre at the end. The movie was a huge commercial success. Nominated for the 1968 Oscars were “Bonnie and

The first television show where swearing was rampant was the “Sopranos” and that opened the flood gates for the ‘F’ word.”

Clyde” and “The Graduate,” which had a quick cut of Mrs. Robinson’s breast. 1969 was the first time an Oscar for Best Picture went to an X rated film, “Midnight Cowboy.” If we look at that film today through a 2024 lens, it would no longer be considered an X rated film. This says more about sexuality in films than language.”

Sex in film has flatlined since the late ‘70s, early ‘80s. Now there is more violence and language. United States film makers are relatively prudish sexually compared to European filmmakers. Frontal male nudity is still not common and even female nudity is rarely seen. Bare breasts, yes, but below the waist, not so much.

I asked Ryder which came first,

swearing in culture or on the screen?

“The first television show where swearing was rampant was the “Sopranos” and that opened the flood gates for the ‘F’ word. The ‘F’ word was definitely out there in society but that show culturally brought language and violence together,” he said.

How do you think that affects society at large?

“It is one of those issues where when you see it in the degree you do on the screen, the genie is out of the bottle. It gives people permission, even enables them to swear, with no consequences and no accountability anymore,” he said. “The last vestige of that has been erased with political rhetoric. No one is shocked anymore.”

Not that this answers my concern of the guy on the grocery line, but according to Ryder, the F word has become part of the lexicon of film and TV. “In certain times it can be appropriate and not to use it is not terribly realistic,” he said. “The problem is that it has become too gratuitous and to some extent, has lost its shock value.”

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Howard Dolgon at the Upstate Medical University Arena on Dec. 13. Photo by Chuck Wainwright.

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cover

Hockey Hall of Famer Syracuse Crunch owner Howard Dolgon scores a goaaaal! with team and community

By Mary Beth Roach

“

I love being in the hockey world.

It’s a great world.”

This from Howard Dolgon, who, as owner, president and CEO of the Syracuse Crunch hockey team, has been sharing his love of the game with thousands of fans for decades. For further proof of his affection for the sport, he has the distinction of owning a Syracuse hockey team longer than anyone else since the Syracuse Stars debuted in 1930.

Dolgon, 67, has been a sports fan since he was a young boy in Brooklyn, taking the subway with his buddies into Manhattan to watch the New York Rangers, among other favorite teams.

Today, thousands travel to the Upstate Medical University Arena (known to many as the Onondaga County War Memorial) to watch his team — the Crunch — play each season.

Attendance averages at more than 5,000 per game and he estimates that from January until the end of each season, (WHEN) Crunch fans fill more 90% of the downtown Syracuse arena every game.

The first puck for the Crunch dropped on Sept. 30, 1994 and with that came what Dolgon sees as his greatest achievement — bringing the

team here.

“When you take a look from the grandstands, it’s a pretty big deal,” he said.

He said that as kids, he and his friends were always talking sports, speculating about what they’d do if they owned this team or that team.

Now, Dolgon does more than just hypothesizing.

Dolgon started working for the Associated Press but transitioned into public relations in the early 1980s.

The AP experience gave him an advantage in PR, because, as he said, he knew how the media worked. He became a partner in the Alan Taylor Communications in 1981, a leader in the area of sports public relations.

One of his clients, Black Velvet Whisky, was interested in a sponsorship with the American Hockey League in the early 1990s. While negotiating the deal, he worked with Bob Ohrablo, then-marketing director with the AHL and a former intern with the Taylor company. A few months later, Ohrablo called Dolgon and asked him if he ever thought of owning a hockey team, saying that he knew of an opportunity in Syracuse.

Dolgon said he was somewhat familiar with Syracuse at that time, because he had wanted to go Syracuse

University for college. After talking with Taylor about this opportunity, he flew up to Syracuse with his longtime friend, Vance Lederman, to meet with Ohrablo and several community leaders.

He said they walked away from the meeting, saying “’this could be really fun.’”

But what made him think it was going to work?

There had been several teams before this that had tried and failed.

From 1930 to 1981, there had been at least a half-dozen teams, in various leagues, that called Syracuse home.

The Syracuse Stars was the first team to ever win the prestigious Calder Cup, the trophy awarded to the AHL playoff champion, in 1937. But the longest than any of those teams lasted was about 10 years.

Yet, he saw the potential for a team — with Syracuse’s location, the growing interest in the sport and his experience. “ I t ’ s a g re a t l o c a t i o n . Yo u had teams surrounding them — Adirondacks, Albany, Binghamton, Rochester. What’s missing from the equation was Syracuse,” he said.

“Hockey was on the rise as a sport,” he added. “And ego. I’ve done huge boxing matches, World Cup, FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

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Olympics. Why can’t I do my own brand? The Crunch are a brand. I’m going to treat it like a product. And the fact that it had failed — that was great incentive.”

He went on to say, “We read the articles. We heard the naysayers. We knew the odds weren’t great.”

“The challenge was enticing to me,” he continued. “Yeah, tell me I can’t do it. Bring it on. I always like the underdog. We could make it work here.”

Dolgon established the Syracuse Hockey Ownership Team in 1993, organized the purchase of the Hamilton Canucks, an affiliate of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks and created the

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Syracuse Crunch. The team has been affiliated with several NHL teams over the years. Currently, it’s an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

But he believed that if he could give fans something of value, they’d support the team.

“Give them something that they feel ownership of, even if they don’t have the financial ownership. That’s critical. You want your fans to feel equity in your product; I don’t care what it is. If they feel vested, you’ve won them,” he said.

Late in that first season, Dolgon said he overheard some fans at a game talking about a power play that had been made and he said he thought

then, “We got them.”

And he has seen the fans at the end of a season trying to figure out what they’re going to do for the next few months until the next season starts.

“Players like playing here because the fans care. They’re loud. They’re knowledgeable,” he said.

But what has the secret for winning fans for 30 years?

“People know we care. We sit with the fans. We talk with the fans,” he said.

The success of the team’s longevity, too, can also be attributed to Dolgon’s ability to blend his branding expertise with his vision — a vision he described as providing quality entertainment

Syracuse Crunch Head Coach Joel Bouchard expresses unhappiness with a call during an American Hockey League (AHL) game against the Hershey Bears at the Upstate Medical University Arena in November. Hershey won the game.

Photo courtesy of Syracuse Crunch.

at an affordable price and making “sure we remain an integral part of the community, that we utilize the platform we have to do good.”

Coming from a blue-collar family, Dolgon said, “I see the value of people helping other people at all levels and that has stayed with me. We do have a platform here. Our players. Our brand.

It goes well beyond putting games on.”

The Crunch’s promotional calendar has many examples of its efforts to give back to the community. The Syracuse Crunch has partnered with Amazon for the Amazon Community Heroes program for this season, in which a member of the Syracuse community is recognized at each home game for

his or her impact. Each hero will win a $100 Amazon gift certificate and be highlighted on the Crunch’s social media pages. Also, during the 202425 season, the Crunch features special nights to raise awareness for breast cancer, lung cancer, stroke and mental health. There are also the Adopt-A-Kid Nights, during which underprivileged kids and nonprofit organizations are provided with tickets to designated Crunch games, courtesy of fan donations and corporate partnerships.

And of course — its popular its annual teddy bear toss.

In December, the Crunch set a record with its 14th annual Stanley Steemer Tired Teddy Toss. As part of

the event, when the Crunch scored its first goal in the Dec. 14 game against the Utica Comets, fans tossed new and gently used teddy bears onto the ice. More than 11,780 stuffed toys were collected that night and they, in turn, were cleaned and refurbished by Stanley Steemer and donated to local charities supporting the Central New York community.

That vision, he said, is part of the responsibilities he has as owner of the team and he credits his staff, including Vance Lederman, senior vice president of business operations and chief financial officer, and Jim Sarosy, chief operating officer, with moving those ideas forward. He comes

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Syracuse Crunch Chief Financial Officer Vance Lederman (right) presents the Syracuse Hockey Hall of Fame plaque to Howard Dolgon at the Upstate Medical University Arena in Syracuse in November. Photo courtesy of Syracuse Crunch.

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Syracuse Crunch Derrick Pouliot (51) celebrates his goal against the Laval Rocket in American Hockey League (AHL) action at the Upstate Medical University Arena in December. Laval won 3-2 in overtime. Photo courtesy of Syracuse Crunch.

to Syracuse from his home in Florida twice a month.

And while he said that starting the team here was his greatest achievement, he’s racked up a few more over the past 30 years.

This past year, Dolgon was inducted into both the Syracuse and the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2010, he received the James C. Hendy Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding executive. That same year, he played a major role with the Mirabito Outdoor Classic, the first outdoor game in AHL history, which was hosted by the Crunch at the New York State Fairgrounds. On Feb. 20, 2010, it set an AHL single-game attendance record of 21,508. On Nov. 22, 2014, he led the Crunch to host the first hockey game in Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome as part of the Toyota Frozen Dome Classic. That set a then-North American indoor attendance record with 30,715 fans. This event would lead the AHL to recognize him as the

winner of the Thomas Ebright Award for outstanding career contributions to the league. He was also honored with the 2014 Crystal Ball Award by the Central New York Sales and Marketing Executives.

Even after three decades, Dolgon is as enthusiastic as ever about owning the team and is unable to name to pinpoint just one favorite part.

“Every part’s my favorite. I love the games. I love seeing our young staff develop and at times, move on to bigger jobs. I love interacting with the players and the coaches and our partners in Tampa. I could watch hockey every day,” he said.

The years, though, have also caused Dolgon to shift his hockey team allegiances. The Rangers now come in second to Tampa Bay. He told how he was watching the Rangers play Tampa Bay with some buddies one day and was rooting for Tampa. His friends were taken aback.

Dolgon, the father of three and

grandfather of four, sees the team and the Tampa partnership as an extended family.

And after 30-plus years, what keeps him so enthusiastic?

“Trying to do better,” he said.

“I think people age when they have nothing to look forward to and they constantly talk about the past. When you stop striving to continue to better yourself or better your environment, you get old. You’ve got to do stuff.”

He said his mind is always working and he meditates twice a day to get focused.

And he’s still got plenty he wants to do.

For one, he would like to see a new building for the team and the community as a whole in the Inner Harbor area.

And win another Calder Cup for Syracuse and throw a huge celebratory party — shining the light on Syracuse for the hockey world that he loves to see.

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the voice

The Man Behind the Voice

Dave Allen, host of ‘Syracuse’s Morning News with Dave Allen,’ has been a staple in local radio for nearly a decade

By Tim Bennett

I

bumped into Dave Allen for the first time at a political rally in Syracuse. I didn’t know he was the Dave Allen from the “Syracuse’s Morning News with Dave Allen!” radio show because the coat tag only had his name with no affiliation. I guess that’s the advantage of being on the radio — your fans may not recognize you. But I had to be sure.

This could be a rare moment to meet the man with one of the best voices on radio.

“Oh, are you the guy who works at WSYR?” “I am,” he said.

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“Nice. I enjoy your show.”

Immediately I shook his hand and introduced myself. He is one of the few radio personalities I enjoy listening to because of his kind and velvety voice that always puts me at ease. In person, it had the same effect. Of course, after some small talk, I had to ask him, “Have you ever been interviewed by 55 Plus magazine?”

When he replied “no,” I asked the obvious question and he said, “Sure,” without hesitation, smiling broadly, maybe thinking what took you so long?

Allen turned 60 on Dec. 16 and has

lived in Syracuse for almost 30 years.

He has hosted “Syracuse’s Morning News with Dave Allen!” from 5 to 9 a.m. on WSYR 106.9 FM since 2016.

On his program, Allen has interviewed a wide variety of politicians and newsmakers, as well as kept Central New Yorkers abreast of current events.

He is active in the community and has won several awards from local organizations such as The American Red Cross and The Salvation Army.

The interview took place at the Syracuse iHeart Radio studio in Franklin Square just before Thanksgiving.

Dave Allen is a supporter of The American Red Cross and often donates and encourages other people to donate blood.

Q: Is radio something you always wanted to do as a kid?

A: This is a fun story because my mom has pictures of me when I was 6 years old walking around talking into an ice cream scoop like I was on the radio. Growing up, my family always had the kitchen radio playing with the news in the morning and music throughout the day. So, it’s true, from a very young age, I always wanted to be on the radio. By the time I was 16 I was working on a professional radio station. I initially started out doing a Sunday morning show playing religious tapes that came into the station. Eventually, I got to DJ on the weekends during my last year in high school in Dayton, Ohio. It was an evening show at a country station.

I used a different name because I didn’t want anybody to know I was on the radio. My biggest fear was that my voice was going to change and I was going to sound different. I still

sounded like a kid at that point. Finally, I started using my real name and I’ve been Dave Allen for quite a few years now.

Q: So, you started your radio career in Ohio. How did you end up in Syracuse?

A: Yes, I started in Dayton, Ohio, which is a good-sized market — a little bit bigger than Syracuse. My goal, though, was to end up in Cincinnati.

By the time I was 19, I was in Cincinnati and having a blast. I bounced all around the country for a long time — seems to be the nature of the business for many of us in radio. I worked in Dallas, Texas; north Michigan; and Toledo, Ohio. I then came back to my hometown of Dayton to raise my two older boys. My parents and grandparents were still around so it was nice to be back there. I thought I was done moving when I got a call in 1998 from Jim Leven who had just

p u rc h a s e d Syracuse Lite105.9 FM, an adult contemporary music station in Syracuse. He wanted me to come here, do the morning show and be the program director. My first thought was, I have no interest in moving to New York state.

Q: Why not?

A: Like many people, when I thought of New York I thought of the city. It’s a great place, but I did not want to live there. I had never visited Upstate New York. Leven said, “Why don’t I fly you up and you can see what it’s like?” So, on St. Patrick’s Day in 1998, I came and I had a wonderful time. People were excited about FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

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with respect no matter who they are.

For example, I may have a politician on and may not agree with what they have to say, but I want to hear it. A lot of people are just focused on their own political views, but I like to get perspectives from both sides. That’s how I learn and understand what everybody is thinking and why people believe the way they do.

Q: Do you have any kids at home?

A: I have been a single dad for quite some time and I am the father of three boys. Two are grown and away.

My youngest is in college right now.

Dave Allen with actor William Shatner — Captain Kirk from the original Star Trek show — in January of 2020 the big parade and I got to feel the energy of the city. Then I did a little research and thought it might be a good opportunity after all. I figured I’d be there for a year or two. But, after six months, things started to click for me. The morning show took off and it did very well in the ratings. Then I started to get connected to a lot of community nonprofits and I fell in love with Syracuse. I was at that station for 10 years until 2008 when we had that economic downturn. I wanted to stay in Syracuse so I accepted a role as the spokesperson on TV and radio stations for nonprofit organizations, such as The Salvation Army and Meals on Wheels, which lasted for eight years.

I was offered the job at WSYR in 2016 and I’ve been there ever since.

Q: You’ve spoken with many types of people for your morning show. What were your favorite interviews?

A: One year we had Fred Grandy who played Gopher in Love Boat in town, which was a big thrill for me.

When I was a kid, Love Boat was such a big hit TV series and they had so 44

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many great stars on it. He also began acting in some of the theaters across the country and got connected with the Red House Arts Center here in Syracuse. He had so many great stories to share and I loved it when he’d talk about Ethel Merman who played his mother on the show.

I also got to moderate the night with William Shatner — Captain Kirk from the original Star Trek show — in January of 2020, just prior to the pandemic. It was billed as, “An Evening with William Shatner” and they played “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” at the Civic Center.

People watched the movie and then I brought out William Shatner on stage, introduced him and interviewed him in front of a sold-out crowd of maybe 2,500 people. That was kind of surreal, sitting with Captain Kirk, just the two of us and having a conversation. He was so funny and so engaged. This was before he took that rocket ride into outer space a year later.

I’ve met many people over the years from singers to comedians to actors. Some people just have big personalities. I try to treat all my guests

Q: What is coming down the line in Syracuse?

A: There are three news stories I am following that I would like to see finalized. Of course, there is the Route 81 project. There is so much construction going on in this county and I hate to say it, but it’s only going to get worse. I’m sure the mayor and the county executive don’t like me saying that, but when 81 comes down and there is construction work all around the city, it’s going to be a challenge for commuters in the morning. Even now, I used to have a 12-minute ride home when I got off at 9 a.m., but now it can take me 45 minutes.

Q: When do they expect that to be done?

A: They started out saying it was a five- or six-year project. But we had a similar construction project in Dayton and it was supposed to be a five- or sixyear project and it ended up taking 11 years. So, we’ll see how long it takes. I am also excited about Micron and I do buy into that. I think it is great for this community and I hear there are other companies coming here as well. I hope everything plays out successfully.

Q: What is the third story you’d like to see finalized?

A: The third thing I want to see is the Columbus statue staying put.

I’ve talked with Mayor Ben Walsh numerous times on the air about this and I’ve talked with others who do not want the statue to be moved. I can see both sides. I don’t want to criticize the mayor, but I think it’s silly that this has become a main focus in recent years.

That statue has been there a long time and I think it should stay where it is. It means so much to so many people in

this town and it really hurts the Italian community that some people want to take it away. I hope they leave it alone and we can focus on other things.

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Q: What kind of hobbies do you have?

A: My sons call me an “outdoor enthusiast.” And they are the same way and we like anything outside — hiking, biking, camping. Probably the smartest thing I’ve ever done was to buy the annual Empire Pass that gets you into all the New York state parks.

We have many great parks in New York state and I like to visit as many as I can.

Q: What are some other things you like to do?

A: I also like being involved with a number of nonprofit groups. I think it is great to volunteer for organizations and sometimes I wish I had more time to do that. Helping Hounds used to be on the east side of town and it was very convenient for me to go over and walk the dogs. Now that they are in Clay, it does not work for me. I rescued a dog from them a number of years ago. He is a Border Collie mix and definitely a herder. We have these enrichment toys for him, like stuffed animals and he enjoys putting them all in the center of the living room as if he’s rounding them up.

Another thing I do is promote the annual radiothon for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. We actually do the broadcast from the lobby of Upstate and it is not so much the amount of money we have raised over the years, but the stories we hear from the kids who have had cancer or serious illnesses or surgeries where they have survived, married and now have kids of their own. We are very lucky to have a children’s hospital in this town.

Q: What would you want your listeners to know about you that may not come out on the radio?

A: I would like to think that who I am in real life is who I am on the radio. People who get to know me — my long-time friends, colleagues and co-workers — they all say that, “Dave is who he is on the radio in real life.”

I am flattered by that and I take it as a compliment. I never wanted to be something on the radio who I wasn’t in real life.

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The National Census Bureau reports that only 10% of all houses in the U.S. are age-friendly, meaning suitable for older residents.

age in place The Overlooked Downsides of Aging in Place

Sooner or later, you will have to hire people to cook, clean and care for you as well as maintain, repair and remodel the house

By Edd and Cynthia Staton

W

hile Americans these days seem to have marked differences of opinion on many topics, there is one subject that enjoys almost universal agreement.

A recent study indicates that a whopping 88% of adults 50 and older say they want to age in place.

On the surface, this makes total sense. The idea of starting over in a new home and a different neighborhood may seem daunting to older adults, especially if they have lived in their current residence for a long time.

But aging in place involves more than simply staying put.

The Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) defines it as having “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of age, income or ability level.”

Aging In Place or Stuck In Place?

In the context of this expanded definition, there are compelling reasons why aging in place could turn out to be a poor long-term decision.

The most obvious is when declining mental or physical health necessitates unaffordable in-home health care expenses.

There are seldom-mentioned factors to consider that you may not have thought of: One is the size and layout of your home. Are you currently living in the same home where you raised your children? Maybe it’s a typical two-story with all the bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs, perfect for that stage of life and filled with happy memories of holidays and family gatherings.

Whatever the layout, in all probability it will not suit your future needs. The National Census Bureau reports that only 10% of all houses in the U.S. are age-friendly, meaning suitable for older residents.

Around 36 million older people fall down in the United States every year, which incredibly means someone somewhere has fallen every second of every day. According to the CDC, one out of every five of these accidents results in a serious injury.

Almost 75% of falls occur in the home, with the vast majority of them taking place in bathrooms or on steps and stairs. As you age, remaining in a house that has not been modified poses increasing safety risks.

If your home is not on one level, having a full bedroom and bath on the first floor is ideal. Changes for the bathroom need to include adding grab bars, shower seats or benches, raisedheight toilet seats and a step-in shower.

Another consideration is the demographic of your neighborhood.

The comfort of your existing home is a strong motivator driving the decision to age in place. But over time the surrounding neighborhood will undoubtedly change. Friends move away. Young families with whom you have little in common replace them.

In older communities, gentrification may begin.

These shifting circumstances can lead to social isolation, especially for the one in four older adults who live alone. Loneliness has long been linked to serious health conditions.

A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) finds that the risk factor for premature death in older adults from social isolation ranks as high as smoking, obesity and lack of physical activity.

Further, loneliness is associated with higher rates of depression and suicide, as well as a 50% greater chance of experiencing dementia, 32% for stroke and 29% for heart disease.

Keeping the House in Shape Even if you are handy around the house, as you age you will need to save for home repairs and maintenance.

Your home is getting older, just like you. Routine upkeep and unexpected repairs are inevitable the longer you live at your family manse, and failure to perform necessary maintenance can create a dangerous environment for those aging in place.

Sufficient income and savings (not to mention patience) will be needed to pay for: • Gardening and yard maintenance.

• Plumbing and electrical problems.

• Roof and gutter repair or replacement.

• Appliance, heating and cooling maintenance.

• Periodic repainting.

• Damage from storms or natural disasters.

Then there is the matter of housework. Let’s face it, dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, washing and drying clothes, changing the bed linens, taking out the garbage, plus cleaning floors, windows and bathrooms doesn’t get easier as the years pile up.

If you find yourself unwilling or unable to continue all these chores, can your budget handle the average cost of $230 per visit for a professional cleaning service?

Is Aging at Home Aging Alone?

Then there is the challenge of

“mentally aging in place.” Major life changes are stressful at any age.

The older one gets, predictability and routine are often embraced as a comforting security blanket.

However, the familiarity of aging in place can easily contribute to mental stagnation. The Alzheimer’s Association states that less than 1% of Alzheimer’s cases are directly caused by heredity. Staying physically and mentally fit through healthy lifestyle choices is a proven strategy to reduce the risk of this debilitating disease.

Where is the stimulation to see and do new things, critical to keeping the mind sharp, when long-held routines beckon? The resistance to change that keeps someone living in the same location can extend to how his or her time is spent.

Ingrained habits are difficult to break, especially when there is no apparent incentive to do so. As an older person, the motivation to make new friends, take up a hobby, learn to speak another language or play an instrument — all terrific ways to keep your brain sharp — must overcome the complacency of asking, “Why bother?”

Should I Stay or Should I Go? The decision to age in place makes sense on many levels. An older adult can more easily maintain a sense of independence and freedom in familiar surroundings. The emotional value of one’s home may be more important than the cash value.

But while aging in place has its place, it also has its problems. The costs of retrofitting and maintaining the residence and the possibility of spending one’s final years alone with few, if any, outside interests are issues that are best planned for well in advance.

Otherwise, as the ancient cartographers warned, “Here Be Dragons.”

About the Authors: Edd and Cynthia Staton write about retirement, expat living and health and wellness. They are authors of three best-selling books and creators of Retirement Reimagined!, an online program to help people considering the retirement option of moving abroad.

Visit them at www.eddandcynthia. com.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

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living

‘Senior’ Community?

What’s in it for You?

Here are some pros and cons of a senior community

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

he websites and brochures for senior communities show gray-haired people with a jaunty expression and loads of vitality living their best life.

But is it in your best financial interest and will it provide you with the best quality of life to downsize and move into a senior community?

“It is important to carefully consider the financial structure and stability of the organization managing the community,” said Randy L. Zeigler, certified financial planner and private wealth adviser for Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, Oswego.

“Many organizations have financial agreements that must be signed before entering. These agreements should be carefully reviewed before agreeing to move in.”

“If there is some form of large, upfront buy-in payment that must be paid 48

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to enter the community, it is important to know how much if any of that amount will be returned at the death or departure of the resident(s),” Zeigler said. “These buy-ins are usually in addition to the payment of a monthly rental fee, the potential resident should understand clearly what their rent covers and what they will still need to pay for separately from the monthly rental payment.”

Some facilities offer transitional levels of care, from independent living to assisted living and then full-time care in an on-campus nursing home. But communities that offer independent living are the least expensive and offer the least amount of support. Landscaping, snow removal, and general building maintenance is usually all that’s offered for independent living. Despite this, these places can be pretty costly.

“Potential residents should also inquire about continuing care options, is there an option to move to an assisted living type of facility within the community and what will that cost and will any of the original buyin payment be applied toward those costs?” Zeigler said.

If finances are a barrier to moving to a senior community, staying put as long as you can safely do so may be the better option. Aging in good health relies upon proactively taking care of yourself. Keep up with doctors’ visits and follow their orders for medication and other protocols. Eat a balanced diet, exercise for 150 minutes weekly, socialize regularly, avoid tobacco and abusing drugs and alcohol. Sleep and de-stress sufficiently. Stay mentally active, learning new information often.

All of these steps can help you stay vibrant and able to take care of yourself

and your property longer.

As for quality of life, downsizing to a small, senior community townhouse may seem like an easy option if you don’t want to perform maintenance like moving and snow removal. But both of these tasks and many more could be performed by someone you hire for a fraction of the cost of a senior community. Don’t count on your kids helping you. Do they live close enough and have the free time to help you out every week?

Some older adults feel pressured to move into a senior community because of transportation needs since they no longer drive. Many senior communities are located near public transportation or have frequently used services nearby. However, ride share services like Uber or Lyft as one means of filling that need. Learn how to use these well before you need them.

Sites such as GoGoGrandparent can help fill that need for people who eschew apps. Once signed up, the older adult can call from any phone — even a landline — and a live, 24/7 operator will connect them with services such as a ride and grocery and restaurant delivery for a fee, along with notifying a designated family member that the older adult is going somewhere. Speed dial services that do not require a live operator are also available.

Most senior communities provide a common space for socializing like a “community room” for birthday parties and an outdoor space for enjoying nature and meeting neighbors. This may seem appealing. However, joining a club, church or other group could also help you socialize more.

For some people, kicking off their downsizing early can help them make more decisions about what happens to their stuff and who in their family gets what. They can also pass along things they no longer need to people who could really use it, such as giving a spare bedroom set to a grandchild who is just starting out.

Above all, watching your wallet is vital to wherever you choose to live.

“I cannot stress enough the importance of having a clear understanding of financial expectations before agreeing to become a resident of a senior community,” Zeigler said. “With a clear understanding in advance, one may be able to avoid becoming dissatisfied later due to misplaced expectations.”

investing Think Hard Before You Raise Your Risk

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

f you feel like your retirement fund could use a boost, carefully consider whether taking on greater risk is a good idea.

“Investing in the stock-bond market is by definition assuming risk since unlike a bank account there are no financial guarantees,” said Cynthia Scott, financial adviser and owner of OMC Financial in DeWitt. “So, the next question is, are you taking on the appropriate risk for your financial situation? Are you too conservative or too aggressive in your portfolio allocation?”

Investors who are too conservative may not keep up with their future income needs. But those who are too aggressive may lose money that needed for future income.

“Both approaches can impact your future lifestyle,” Scott added.

Instead, she advises a moderate risk portfolio that is diversified in many areas of the market, “some bonds, stocks and cash,” she said.

“There is no guarantee that you can’t lose money, but you have spread your risk so that the overall impact may be less.”

The reason of course is that if the riskier investment sours, you’re that much further behind in retirement savings.

Deciding whether or not to take on more risk involves evaluating the capacity for suffering loss and the ability to recover.

A disappointing investment and subsequent loss could mean delaying retirement and possibly curtailing post-retirement plans such as traveling, purchasing a new home and helping out your adult children or grandchildren. It could mean taking on a second job for a few years and lowering your quality of life.

When clients ask about risk, Randy L. Zeigler, certified financial planner and private wealth adviser for Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC in Oswego, advises that “it is best to

take risk with investment capital that is targeted toward long-term goals.

I generally do not advise taking on risk when the goal period is shorter than four years. Money that will be needed to pay for a project or specific financial goal within a three to four year timeframe should normally be held in certificates, money market mutual funds or other types of shortterm savings instruments.

“When one has a goal that extends beyond four years, then accepting some level of risk makes sense in order to have the potential to generate greater long-term average annual rates of return. I usually advise people with no investment experience to begin slowly with variable investments, watch how the securities markets fluctuate and try to educate oneself to understand how both stock and bond assets work.”

Investing isn’t a shortsighted endeavor. Zeigler encourages clients to develop a comfort level with fluctuating asset values. At that point, they could invest a greater percentage into equity types of assets “but we always find out our real risk tolerance during a recessionary period, when stock prices are down. I encourage my clients to attempt to be patient investors, to try not to manage money with too much emotion and to be careful how they respond — not react — to market volatility and pricing changes.”

Taking on more risk doesn’t necessarily mean higher returns. It’s important to remember that younger people can absorb more losses as they have more time to recoup them by cutting expenses, working more and taking full advantage of any company-matched investment plans.

Everyone investing to grow their retirement fund should meet with a financial advisor who can offer a plan tailored to their specific goals, timeline, risk tolerance and overall financial situation.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

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first person

Linda Nanos and her grandchild practice yoga together.

SO THIS IS 70

Self-care, family connections, meaningful work and pursuing my passions all help me set a course through this decade

By Linda Goor Nanos

W

hen I turned 60, I thought it was the new 50.

My mother was turning 90 and we celebrated together with a 60-90 party.

I felt fit, I was at the peak of my career and my brother asked me what hair color to look for when he picked me up at the airport.

Ten years later (a decade sounds longer), 70 doesn't feel like the new anything.

I admit part of my mindset was preprogrammed. In our 60s, my husband and I agreed that 60-something didn't feel old, but 70 would. I told my landlord that my office lease would only go up to my 70th birthday, because I would not have a commercial 50

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lease after that; he customized the terms.

This is not all subjective perspective. For most of my childhood, the life expectancy of an adult hovered around 72. I turned 72, defying both my 1950's concepts of aging and the Who's song "My Generation" where Roger Daltrey famously sang that he hoped to die before he grew old.

Whether subjective or objective, there are significant life passages that can't be ignored.

The Role of Family Matriarch I ascended to the role of family matriarch when my mother died six years after we celebrated our 60-90

birthdays. She was the last of her generation and left large shoes to fill.

I miss her and all the elders. In the later years of my parents' lives, I had a caregiving role. When they were gone, and my son and daughter were living their own independent lives, I felt a void I needed to fill.

As if hearing my call, my role as matriarch expanded when I had three grandchildren within a three-year span. My husband and I babysit our granddaughter who lives nearby and maintain a close relationship with her. We spend as much time as we can with our grandsons who live out of state, whether by flying to them or having them at our home. Staying on top of the grandchildren's milestones

‘Reduced tension is a key to preserving health at any stage of life, especially as I advance in age.’

is my new focus.

Continuing to maintain my health and be my own caregiver is critical.

On airplanes, the instruction is to put on your oxygen mask first. Only in this way can you be of help to those who depend upon you. The need to maintain my own health is not only to be able to be an active part of my grandchildren's lives, but also to be independent and not a burden on my son's and daughter's busy lives.

Health and Wellness I always prided myself in not relying on pharmaceuticals, although I took herbs and vitamin supplements.

My health has been challenged and I accepted heart medication in my daily regimen. I begin each day with a stretching routine based on the years of yoga practice, to which I added Kegel contractions for organ prolapse and breathing exercises for lung capacity.

I barely passed a respiratory function test following a debilitating bout with bronchitis. I had dark moments with both heart and lungs on the fritz, but I finish my morning

routine with affirmations of gratitude and express how I want my life to unfold: with ease.

I've stepped up my holistic approach to health with homemade pear sauce served at breakfast, cooked with generous amounts of cardamom and cinnamon, for their health benefits to my heart and lungs.

With physical upkeep taking a more central role, it dovetails with the sale of my professional practice. I work part-time for the new owner which allows me to arrive at 11 and have a leisurely start in the morning.

It's healthy for me to get up and go to a job because I've worked my entire life, you might even say I was a workaholic, but now I'm working half the hours, and have no overhead responsibilities. It's so much more enjoyable with less pressure. Reduced tension is a key to preserving health at any stage of life, especially as I advance in age.

Central to keeping a positive outlook is devoting more time to passions: mine are writing, birdwatching and reading. Everyone must find their passion. It can be a

hobby or cooking or pickleball, but there has to be something that calls to you each day to get out of bed.

I jump start my morning with a cup of coffee and watching the birds peck away at the feeders I fill. My evenings generally include writing articles and working on a book. I always have my next book club selection at my bedside to read.

Keeping up with extended family ties is another source of satisfaction.

I send birthday greetings to nieces and nephews and their children.

The children receive a token holiday gift from me. Most of them live in different states. Text chains, Wordle group, and Facebook are other ways I stay connected. My brother and I live nearly 3,000 miles apart, but I made the trek to visit him as a birthday present to myself.

My brother didn't have to ask what color hair to look for when he picked me up at the airport because it's now snow white. That change came about because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While isolated in quarantine, I let my dyed hair grow out. I went through an awkward two-tone stage, but it's a relief to not be spending so much time and money in a salon tending to highmaintenance hair.

I ' m m o re c o m f o r t a b l e t h a n I thought I would be as a whitehaired grandmother. My physique has changed with age and I'm thankful for a clothing line for mature shapes and for Spandex. My doctor has a relaxed attitude about weight, so long as my numbers are within a normal range.

Admittedly, I have more work to do in this area but there should always be goals to attain.

Taking in the totality of 70, it may not be the new 60, but I'm all right with 70 for what it is: self-care, connection with family, meaningful work and pursuit of passions.

I'm laying the course for my passage through this decade.

Linda Goor Nanos is a practicing attorney, author, wife, mother and grandmother. Her writing credits include a memoir "Forty Years of PMS," professional articles and published essays on life lessons. Article was previously published at www.nextavenue. org. Reprinted with permission.

activities

WonderWorks in Syracuse includes high ropes, laser tag, 4D theater and Wonder Zones.

Fun Indoor Places to Take the Grandkids

When it’s cold outside, have fun inside. Region has wide variety of options

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

f the cold has you down, round up the grandkids for an adventure indoors. Central New York offers plenty of hotspots for fun for children through teens.

• Try rock climbing at Central Rock Gym in Syracuse. The facility offers auto belays, top rope, lead, bouldering, fitness, and yoga — plenty to keep the kids active. Note the minimum age requirements for the various activities before heading out and review the facility’s safety rules on the website.

More info: https://centralrockgym. com/syracuse • Billy Beez in Syracuse gives children (even infants!) a fun and safe parkour type of experience with plenty 52

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of obstacles and climbing equipment to explore. The arcade, ball pit, slides, trampoline and imaginative play area offer something to pique the interest of every child. Since most of the activities are pint-sized, Billy Beez provides plenty of seating for adults.

It’s inside Destiny USA, so you could “tag team” with another adult to keep an eye on the kids (and hear the cries of “Grandma! Look at me!”) and get a little shopping done.

More info: https://billybeezus.com • Skate-A-While Longer in Rome delivers a traditional family skating experience, with an arcade, pizza and of course, skating. If you plan to visit often, the Kids Skate Free Club offers children 10 and younger two free

skating times weekly for a $4.99 annual membership.

More info:(https://skateawhile.com • Get Air in Syracuse is a trampoline park that includes foam pits, dodgeball, slamball, ninja obstacles and more. The facility offers separate areas for very small children. Special socks (available at the admission desk) are required to prevent slipping. Admission is free for anyone not jumping. Check out the massage chairs while you watch the kids bounce.

More info: https://getairsports.com/ syracuse • WonderWorks i n S y r a c u s e includes high ropes, laser tag, 4D theater and Wonder Zones, which are

• The Everson Museum of Art features ever-changing exhibits of American art to enjoy. Ask the children about what you view. What is happening in this painting? Why do you think that the artist chose red for this portrait? Dine at the Louise Café before you go.

More info: https://everson.org The Oswego Children’s Museum (https://cmoo.org) in Oswego encourages children to experiment and learn through play in a pint-sized town, soft foam playground, water table and more. The museum promotes science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) concepts.

Check out the offerings at your local library branch. Many provide story time for young children, craft events and more. Or just get lost among the stacks. Most libraries offer free discard bins which can help children build their personal library.

When taking the grandkids to any of these venues, check the website for any discounts or coupons available.

Many points of interest offer senior and veteran discounts or allow infants free admission. Some allow free admission for adults with paid children’s admission.

The MOST Museum offers a wide variety of activities for children and their family. sensory-boggling, brain teasing areas.

For example, feel confounded by the optical illusions of the Wonder Art Gallery. Or test your endurance in the Extreme Weather Zone’s Hurricane Shack.

More info: www.wonderworksonline. com/destiny • Zero Latency, also at Destiny, plunges guests into a wireless, virtual reality world in a 2,000 square-foot arena. The facility includes Kiss My Axe, virtual reality axe-throwing area, where guests can “throw” virtual objects onto physical targets.

More info: https://zerolatencyvr.com • Another Destiny attraction, 5 Wits is a group of themed escape rooms to challenge preteens and teens.

Use the clues hidden throughout the room to solve the puzzles and progress to the next room and solve the overall mystery. Prebooking online is recommended.

More info: https://5-wits.com/ syracuse • The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (The MOST) in Syracuse isn’t a stuffy, keep-youhands-to-yourself type of museum.

In fact, the innumerable hands-on, interactive exhibits invite kids to dig in and explore STEM topics. Plan to spend the day together.

More info: www.most.org FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

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dance

Deyo, left, and daugther Kelsie, in their warmup clothes for a dance concert at the Syracuse Civic Center in 2014.

Deyo’s daughter acts, sings, and dances in Syracuse’s local musical theater productions.

Laurie Deyo: A Life Taking Big Leaps Onstage and Off

Now 70, she has been non-stop since she trained in New York City and did musical theater in the New York metropolitan area and then brought all that experience to Syracuse in 1984

By Carol Radin

“

I love, love, love to jump!” These are hardly surprising words coming from dancer Laurie Deyo, who has spent her life taking big leaps onstage and off.

Now 70, she has illumined CNY dance ensembles and schools for the past 40 years with her performances 54

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in modern dance, her choreography and her dance instruction.

Deyo’s career on Syracuse’s dance scene has covered the gamut: Performances with the Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company in the 1980s and then again in the 2000s; teaching on the dance faculty

at Syracuse University; currently teaching children and adults at the Syracuse Ballet and Dance Center; and choreographing for all of the above as well as for past performances with the Syracuse Orchestra when it was Symphoria.

“I can’t not move!” Deyo

An early photo of Deyo, at left in pigtails, as a “Kit Kat girl” in “Cabaret” in 1980. exclaimed. She has been non-stop since she trained in New York City and did musical theater in the New York metropolitan area and then brought all that experience to Syracuse in 1984.

When Deyo started dance as a serious pursuit, she was not nearly as young as the children in her classes now. In high school, the closest she got to musical movement was being a drum majorette. She was athletic, which would certainly serve her well in her future years of dance.

“I could throw a football better than a quarterback!” she said.

Here’s the key: Deyo was also intensely musical and it was actually her pursuit of flute, piano and voice in high school that led her to major in music at Hope College in Michigan.

Though she switched out of the major in her senior year, opting for a major in elementary education, she

took a dance course, got hooked and completed a minor in dance.

That led to Deyo’s first big leap.

The small town girl from Holland, Michigan — population 26,000 — moved to New York City – population 17 million plus.

“I learned a lot very fast!” she laughed.

Immersing herself in a master’s degree program at NYU, she studied t h e s t y l e s o f g ro u n d - b re a k i n g contemporary dance masters Jose Limon, Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham and completed a master’s degree in dance and dance education. She danced in NYU’s Kaleidoscope Dancers and had the great opportunity to perform for a show in Carnegie Hall Recital Hall.

After completing her degree in 1980, her talent in voice and dance landed her professional engagements in

A promotional photo in the early 1990s for the Syracuse School of Dance, musical theater productions from Edison, New Jersey’s famed “Plays-inthe-Park,” to Kingston, to Connecticut.

In just a few years, she did eight to 10 shows in suburban theater venues, cartwheeling across stage in “Hello Dolly,” working with Actors’ Equity performers and practicing in a studio where her instructor had danced for George Balanchine.

“Hello Dolly” was a particular favorite of hers — who wouldn’t want to sing every day to “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” or do a “fun crazy number” like “Before the Parade Passes?”

I n a n o t h e r p ro d u c t i o n , t h e musical, “Carousel,” she had the part of “Carrie.” So she got her chance to sing solos and duets and speak lines.

It was all exhilarating. And then Deyo took another big leap into the unknown. In 1984, she moved to FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

55

Deyo today, off stage and still shining.

Syracuse with her husband at the time.

It was a small pond, for sure. However, not one to sit around thinking about getting adjusted, Deyo launched into the Syracuse dance scene right away. She began to teach classes at the Syracuse School of Dance (which has since become part of the Syracuse Ballet and Dance Center) and from there connected with the Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company to perform on stage. There was no doubt she would make her mark in Central New York as a performer and instructor. Jazz, ballet, tap, modern dance, even aerobics — you name it, she moved it and taught it.

Just two years after her arrival in Syracuse, Deyo was offered a position on the dance faculty at Syracuse University’s Exercise Science department. It was the beginning of a rich and varied career in which her education background, dance and movement studies and her “Can’t NOT move” approach to life infused both the students and programming.

SU dance students asked her to be the adviser for “DanceWorks” and help them develop from a club into a more serious performance group presenting for audiences. With her 56

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stage experience and her creative eye and ear for choreography, Deyo was just the spark they needed.

During those years, what else did she do? What didn’t she do?

She asked the question, ‘why is there not a dance minor?’ and then answered her own question by creating a formal 22-credit dance minor, which SU now offers. She held full-time positions in undergraduate academic advising and in undergraduate and graduate admissions advising and recruiting for the School of Education, as well as her part-time faculty position. In her spare time — spare time? — she returned to the Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company to perform occasionally and, starting in 2010, began to teach modern dance at the Syracuse Ballet and Dance Center in DeWitt.

Deyo retired from SU in 2015.

While she stopped performing on stage at age 64, her involvement is still quite demanding in the dance classroom, where she puts her best dancing foot forward to explain and demonstrate technique. Deyo’s teaching style balances her personal warmth and insight with the exacting professional whose students sense

pretty quickly when it’s time to drill down on technique.

She teaches adult, youth and children’s classes and has students aged 6 to 71. Senior adults can and do sign up for her classes. Although Deyo advises that they have some prior dance experience and a level of fitness that the movement demands.

She also continues to choreograph works. It has been a natural evolution for her as a musician and dancer who loves the challenge of combining mind and body, then translating that to a performance where her dancers can communicate Deyo’s intent and make it their own.

“My inspiration is the music first,” Deyo said, explaining her process. “My musical background gave me the sense of how different parts of dance and movement work with music. That’s allowed me to create pieces that played to all the underlying elements in the music.”

Over the years, her choreographed performance pieces have drawn on the music of Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Gloria Estevan, Mary Jo Blige and the 1980s heavy metal group, Metallica. Other arrangements incorporated the music of Michael

Jackson’s “We Are the World” and Wicked’s “Defying Gravity.”

Deyo had a particularly extraordinary moment in 2012, when she performed in her own choreographed work.

“I never do that because I want to observe,” she said.

This time was different, though.

She had created the dance for a group of six to go with the song, “Living Proof” from the 2011 movie “The Help,” a story based on 1960s Mississippi and the Civil Rights movement. Becoming part of her own interpretation onstage was, “very emotional for me,” she said.

Deyo’s first love is jazz, so her antenna is ever up for ideas that are outside-of-the-box.

“I don’t do a lot of unison,” she said of her compositions. One example of that was evident in a recent Everson Museum performance by her pre-teen students. Deyo had the dancers in three groups, the middle group following one pattern and the groups on either side of the middle mirroring each other, but not duplicating the middle group. So it was a set of interesting fragments unified into a whole. Ever the educator as well as dancer, Deyo adjusts her compositions according to the age group performing them. As this particular performance began, Deyo, the teacher and choreographer, rushed out to the side aisle in the audience to observe. No doubt secretly counting, spacing and moving limbs inside her head. She was beaming.

Deyo and her husband, Michael Spencer, live in Syracuse. Spencer is also a musician who sings and plays piano and guitar for the Syracuse Pops Orchestra and also plays every Sunday at the Park Central Presbyterian Church in Syracuse. Deyo’s two adult children are, like their mom, committed musical performers as well. Her daughter, Kelsie, takes dance courses with her mom and is very active in local musical theater productions. Her son, Austin, is a drummer now based in New York City, where he does solo as well as group performances and participates in recording sessions. So the whole darn family follows the beat.

Deyo and Spencer also have two young grandchildren, whom Deyo babysits for as regularly as her non-stop life permits. Chances are the little ones will be tapping out tunes for themselves before too long and making great leaps in true Deyo spirit.

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57

life after 55

By Michele Bazan Reed Email: bazanreed@hotmail.com

Ribbon in Time

F

or Christmas, my daughter gave me a book, “Olivetti” by Allie Millington.

It has two narrators: a boy and an Olivetti typewriter.

Though obviously written for a middle school audience, its universal themes resonate for any age. Part fantasy (a given, unless you believe typewriters really do talk), part family drama and part mystery — it’s wise and funny and heartwarming.

The minute I opened the gift and saw the illustration of a vintage Olivetti on the cover, one thing came immediately to mind: my late husband, Bill’s, portable mid-century typewriter, which saw him through our shared years in college and grad school.

It came in a tweed-covered case that was hinged in back and flipped up, revealing the machine. It was a sturdy light gray, metal job, nothing like the flimsier plastic typewriters that would follow.

Bill would hunt and peck with two fingers, but managed to put out term papers at a remarkable rate of speed and with relatively few mistakes. Till the end of his life, although he was skilled in using a computer and could do research, conduct business, play games and type plenty of reports for his job, he only ever used his two index fingers to type.

There was the day that old antique saved me. We were in our junior year at Syracuse University in 1972 and 58

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I had a newfangled portable electric typewriter from Smith Corona, a high school graduation present from my parents. Ever the procrastinator, I waited till the day before a term paper was due to begin typing it. I wasn’t a very quick typist and it got later and later and I got more and more tired.

Finally, I ended up falling asleep with my finger on the e key. The electric machine kept trying to strike the e, apparently over and over again, but when I woke up, the e key wouldn’t work. Now, a high percentage of words have an e in them. And mine did not work. I ran to Bill’s room — this was before cell phones, of course — and he pulled out his trusty old manual and

finished typing up the final pages of my handwritten essay.

And that memory put me in mind of all the typewriters I’ve loved and lost over the last half-century. A writer’s best friend is their writing instrument and I’ve been blessed with many true writing buddies, equipped with keys.

There are plenty of great writers who still create their work on the clacking keys of a manual “typewriting machine,” including, famously, actor, director and author Tom Hanks, who has a collection of more than 250 vintage machines and uses them for thank-you notes and letters. His book of short stories, “Uncommon Type,” features a typewriter in each story.

The film “California Typewriter” features Hanks among many other creative people loyal to typewriters to produce their work.

When I was a child, I frequently went to auctions and estate sales with my father. At one auction, he got me the most unusual typewriter I have ever seen. Instead of four rows of keys with a shift key to change from lower case to capital letters like a modern typewriter, it had two sets of keys, one for upper and one for lower case. The double set of typebars was set in a circle on the top of the machine and the platen cut across the middle of the circle, where the typebars would strike the paper from the underside.

Although he was quite the mechanic, my father was never able to get those typebars, which had seized up, to work again. Still, we cleaned it up and it made a lovely conversation piece which held a precious memory of my father for me.

There was something about those old typewriters with the satisfying

“

“

‘I believe typewriters will never disappear from our lives. Nothing can take away the satisfaction of pounding away on a sturdy, metal workhorse, which can do its job basically forever with minimal maintenance.’

clacking of the keys, the gratifying force with which you struck them and the cathartic act of slamming the carriage back to the left. And then there was the cheerful “ding” at the end of a line. It really felt like you were accomplishing something with every word you typed.

Each typewriter had character to its letters, minute differences which made each machine’s type distinctive.

So much so, that at one point, forensics used typewriting analysis to identify suspects in crimes like kidnapping, where a ransom noted was used.

When I went to work in the 1970s, the IBM Selectric was the workhorse of the day. Introduced in 1961, it was the first major innovation in a machine designed more than a hundred years earlier. It introduced the “type ball,” allowing typists to change fonts by switching out metal spheres, about the size of golf balls, which replaced

the typebars of the older versions. The bars could get tangled up if you typed too fast, so the Selectric enabled faster typing. I remember being excited that there were balls for straight type and italic, allowing us to use the proper style for titles of books and movies in our stories.

The accoutrements of typing were fun, too — ribbons in red and black, white out and lift off tape to correct mistakes and erasers shaped like pencils that you sharpened to a point. These had fanlike tufts of nylon bristles on top to whisk away the dust made by the eraser breaking apart as you rubbed.

And then there was carbon paper.

Everything needed to be typed “in duplicate,” so you slid a piece of blackcoated paper between two sheets, creating a second copy, which always smudged, got all over your fingers and crisp white shirt and never contained

those corrections you made using the methods above.

Then came the day in early 1984.

I was working at Ed Vayner ’s ad agency in Fulton and Ed gathered us all into the conference room, where he unveiled a new tool we’d be using and one which would change the world as knew it: the first Macintosh computer. Who would have thought that little beige box would usher in a whole new way to create, compute and communicate and usurp the typewriter’s role as king of the office.

I believe typewriters will never disappear from our lives. Nothing can take away the satisfaction of pounding away on a sturdy, metal workhorse, which can do its job basically forever with minimal maintenance. That may be part of its appeal. But like in that book I was given, I think it’s a bit of typewriter magic.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

59

your health

By Eva Briggs, M.D.

Understanding Kidney Stones, Types and Treatments

A

friend recently observed that he’d jinxed himself when he remarked that he hadn’t had a kidney stone in 24 years and then — boom — he was promptly brought to his knees by a kidney stone.

Kidney stones are also called renal calculi, nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis.

They are hard deposits of salts and minerals that form within the kidneys.

There are four main types of kidney stones.

• Calcium oxalate stones form from the combination of calcium and oxalate in the urine.

• Uric acid stones can form from an excess dietary intake of purines.

Purines are a natural substance found in high levels in shellfish and organ meats. The tendency to form uric acid stones can run in families.

• Struvite stones are rare and related to urinary tract infections. They were named by a German chemist who identified struvite crystals in a medieval midden in Hamburg, Germany. He named the substance after a geologist Heinrich Christian Gottfried von Struve.

• Cystine stones are caused by an accumulation of the amino acid cystine in the urine due to an inherited

disorder called cystinuria.

Small kidney stones may cause no symptoms. But as stones enlarge, they can block urine flow. This distends the kidney or the tubes that collect the urine, leading to pain called renal colic. The pain may start as a dull ache in the flank. But as the blockage causes more distension of upstream structures the pain becomes sharp and severe. The pain can be incapacitating. Kidney stone pain often causes patients to writhe around, unable to find a comfortable position.

Patients may vomit.

The pain often starts in the back, wrapping around the flank, when a stone becomes hung up in the renal pelvis. That’s the junction where the kidney tubules meet up with the ureter (tube from the kidney to bladder.)

Sometimes a kidney stone may move into the ureter only to become caught where the ureter meets the bladder.

The pain then migrates to the lower abdomen. If the stone makes it into the bladder, it may become caught in the urethra, the tube from the bladder to the outside. This pain then moves to the urethra, felt by men at the tip of the penis.

Initial treatment consists of pain

medication and antiemetics (nausea medicine). CT scan is used to delineate the stone’s size and location and to help exclude alternate diagnoses. If the stone can’t pass on its own, a urologist might have to retrieve it by a scope, insert a stent to keep the ureter open, or sometimes insert a tube to drain from the kidney to the outside (nephrostomy tube).

Another treatment is lithotripsy, bombarding the stone with sound waves to break it into smaller pieces that can be passed.

It’s important to strain the urine to determine the type of stone involved.

This enables the patient’s doctor to determine what type of dietary recommendations or medicine is needed to prevent recurrences.

Drinking plenty of fluid decreases the concentration of offending substances in the urine, reducing the likelihood of stone formation.

Reach thousands and thousands of local readers

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55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025

A side street in Aegina adorned with umbrellas

visits

MY VISIT TO GREECE

By Joe Sarnicola

M

y journey to Greece started when I left Syracuse airport just before 11 on the morning of Oct. 14. After a three-hour layover at JFK airport in New York City and a nine-and-a-halfhour flight to Athens, my companion, Jan, and I arrived at about 8 the next morning. But that was Athens time.

My body, still being on New York time, thought it was 1 in the morning and I am a person who has trouble adjusting to “spring ahead, fall back.”

In spite of the time difference, a short nap in the hotel refreshed me enough to be able to start exploring Athens.

Backing up for a moment, I would

like to describe one event on the flight over. On the backs of the seats in front of us is a small screen for watching movies, but it has another feature of showing where the plane is in real time. When I checked where we were, I saw we were flying over Italy, just as the sun was coming up. Seeing the lights from the cities below and the changing colors of the sky around us while flying over Italy was one of the most beautiful sights of the trip.

The hotness of summer was past.

But the weather remained pleasantly in the 70s all week.

The first place we wanted to see was a section of the city called Monastiraki Square, a collection of

shops, outdoor vendors and sidewalk cafes, which was literally across the street from our first hotel. We had lunch at the Veranda Café. I ordered moussaka, which reminded me of lasagna, but the ingredients were tomatoes, potatoes and eggplant in a creamy bechamel sauce. I ordered vegetarian, but it can also come with beef or lamb. It was delicious!

Around us people were enjoying the food, the atmosphere and each other’s company. I highly recommend visiting here, just don’t get lost like we did. In the States, most of our streets are either parallel or perpendicular to each other. In Greece, the layout is more freeform. So it is very easy FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

61

Joe Sarnicola at Delphi.

to get disoriented.

The next day, we were scheduled to leave early in the morning for a twoday tour with a group to Delphi and Meteora (pronounced me-TAY-o-ra, accent on tay.) Whether it was due to jet lag, I can’t say, but I set the alarm for 6:30. When it went off, I got up and got dressed while Jan started a pot of coffee. I checked to see if my phone had charged overnight and discovered it was 4:30, not 6:30! So we tried to steal a couple more hours’ sleep. Sigh.

Once we left Athens, the landscape was mostly barren, dusty and dry for many miles. Another thing about the landscape in rural Greece: in the States houses come in many different colors, shapes and materials. In Greece, there seems to be a choice of square and white concrete with a brown roof.

When we reached Delphi, we were able to see the ruins, some which still show hand carved lettering. Delphi is where the ancient Greeks went to visit 62

55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025

Wife Jan and I taking a carriage ride in Aegina.

the oracle for guidance. It is hard not to be humbled when you view sites that are thousands of years old.

As we continued on toward Meteora (which means ‘suspended in air’), the landscape started to turn to rich, brown soil with olive trees, cotton fields and freshly harvested pastures.

Many of the farms are terraced because Greece is very mountainous. Meteora is a region where several monasteries are built on top of very high cliffs and the monasteries are open to the public on a limited basis.

The night before we visited the monasteries, we stayed at a hotel in a village called Kalambaka, at the foot of the mountains. I expected a small town with little activity, due to its remoteness, but it was filled with shops, restaurants and entertainment.

When the sun went down, the cliffs were lit up, offering a magnificent view.

The monasteries are still run by

monks and nuns (separately). The chapels were decorated from floor to ceiling with brightly colored Byzantine style paintings of saints and Biblical scenes.

Stepping out onto the balconies and viewing spots, the valleys and mountainous terrain can be seen for many miles in every direction.

After our tour of the monasteries, we rode the bus back to Athens. The following day we were scheduled for a half-day tour of the city, after which we were free to wander on our own.

Athens is a busy, beautiful city, but it is not like a city in the states. The sidewalks are made of cobblestones, limestone, and marble, materials that can be slippery even when dry.

Plus, there are breaks and holes in the sidewalk and the cobblestones that can be uneven, making for some unsure footing. Please wear sturdy, comfortable shoes and be mindful as you walk.

The Parthenon: The former temple on the Athenian Acropolis, that was dedicated to the goddess Athena.

5 Things to Know Before Going to Greece

And the traffic? Yikes! Sometimes it was hard to tell if we were walking on the road or the sidewalk and there could be cars or motorcycles wondering the same thing. There are very few large vehicles in Athens. I even saw a scaled-down garbage truck.

In addition, motorcycles weave in and around traffic and pedestrians. Parking is just as fierce, with cars facing each other on the same side of the street, often with motorcycles between them.

Really.

From the balcony of our hotel room, we could see the Parthenon, which had been the political center of ancient Greece, on a hill called the Acropolis and it, too, was lit up at night. The site itself is a major tourist attraction, so expect crowds. We were told they had recently limited the number of visitors to 20,000 a week.

After visiting the Parthenon, we wanted some quieter time in a greener area and we were fortunate that near the hotel was the Athens

National Garden, a scenic park with many walking trails, koi and turtle ponds, a wide variety of plants and remnants of ruins.

On the last day of our trip, we rode a ferry to the nearby island of Aegina.

Like Monastiraki, the port area of this island was a cluster of shops and cafes. I wish there had been a tourist information booth there, because it was difficult to find out how to get to any historic sites or other places of interest. A fellow traveler gave us some good advice, so we rode a bus to the temple of Aphaia, a ruin on a high point of the island with a view of the ocean.

We took a wonderful horse-drawn carriage ride and sampled a liquor made from pistachios, a major crop of Aegina. I expected it to be syrupy and oversweet, but it was light, flavorful and refreshing. I wish I had bought more to bring home.

And before we knew it, we were back home in New York state.

1. Plan, book ahead. Decide what you want to see and do by checking travel guides and websites. Once we made our choices, we contacted Fantasy Travel, an agency based in Athens. They met us at the airport (and brought us back), gave us an itinerary for each day, pre-purchased all necessary tickets and made all hotel and transportation arrangements.

2. Buy Euros in advance. They can be purchased at area banks, AAA and other places. Euros are the preferred method in Greece at most shops, vendor booths and restaurants, although cards are acceptable at most hotels and certain merchants, although with surcharges.

3. Buy an adaptor for any electronic devices. They are inexpensive and available at large department stores. You cannot plug American-based devices into European outlets.

4. Think twice about renting a car. Signage is only in Greek and traffic in certain areas is treacherous. Being part of a tour is much safer and you can relax and enjoy the trip.

5. Greece is more than the islands and the beaches. There is history and beauty on the main island across the entire country.

Think about this when you plan your trip.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

63

druger’s zoo

By Marvin Druger Email: mdruger@syr.edu

7 Incidents That Make a Difference

LIFE LESSONS

L

ife is full of trivial remarks and incidents that may have had a profound influence on us.

Sometimes, words of praise stay with us; sometimes insulting words make a lasting impression.

In this article, I’ll describe a few of the significant remarks and incidents that stay in my mind.

There is no logical order to such memories and you never know when a particular incident or remark will come to mind. I hope to stimulate your thinking about such remarks and incidents that have occurred in your life.

1. Pondering the Definition of Fitness After earning my Ph.D. in zoology (genetics) at Columbia University, I did a one-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization at Sydney University in Australia. My mentor was Jimmy R. In Australia and other countries, scientists spend much of their day in the tea room. I was a hustling 64

55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025

postdoc, spending most of my time in the lab and I discovered something interesting. I wanted to talk to Jimmy about it. “Where’s Jimmy?“ I asked.

I was told, “Oh. He’s in the tea room,” (I should have known that).

I rushed to the tea room, only to see Jimmy lying flat on his back on a black, leather couch, with his arms folded across his chest and his eyes closed.

I said with alarm, “Jimmy are you OK?” He barely moved his lips and he replied, “I’m pondering the definition of fitness.”

This remark made a profound, memorable impression on me. I suddenly realized the importance of stopping to ponder what we are doing in life. What is this all about? Where do I go from here? What’s really important to me and what’s not important? From that moment on, I recognized the value of “pondering” about my life and I passed that message to my students.

2. Meeting My Wife I always seemed to take on leadership roles in my life. One of them at Brooklyn College was being

president, social secretary and treasurer of Lyons House, a house plan. House plans were like fraternities, but you lived at home.

As social secretary, I arranged three parties for my house plan on Easter weekend. Two parties were with college sororities and one was with a high school sorority. I told my friends that I wouldn’t attend the high school sorority party because, “Those girls were too young for me.” They responded, “If you don’t go to that party, we won’t go either.” So, I went to the high school party.

I met this pretty girl named Pat and we chatted for awhile. At the end of the party, I asked, “Can I walk you home?” While we were walking down 14th Street toward the apartment where she lived with her parents, I asked her how old she was. “I’m 15,” she replied. I was so shocked that we walked around the block again. She was much too young for me, I thought.

We took the elevator to the fifth floor of her apartment building and I walked her to her apartment at the end of the hallway. “Goodnight, Pat,” I said and I walked back to the elevator.

The elevator was on a different floor.

For some reason, she fumbled with her keys. In those few seconds, I thought, “Maybe I should ask her for a date.” I went back to her door and asked, “Do you want to go to a movie with me next Friday?” She replied unenthusiastically, “OK.” We went to see a movie at the Fox Theater in Brooklyn that Friday. She put her arm around me in the movie house. Wow! I liked her more and subsequently, we had almost 60 years together loving, working, laughing and traveling.

I often think, suppose the elevator had been on the fifth floor and suppose she didn’t fumble with her keys. I didn’t even know her last name or phone number. Chance favored me and I lived happily ever after with her as my bride, until she passed away in 2014 from metastatic lung cancer. Our marriage led to three wonderful children and seven lovely grandchildren and priceless memories.

3. A New Companion I was in Wegmans at the checkout counter behind an attractive woman.

She was buying all sorts of stuff that I never eat. I had a bag of lettuce. I chatted with her and I said, “I only have a bag of lettuce. My wife passed away last year and I’m alone.” For some unknown reason, she gave me her audiologist business card and said, “I’m alone too.”

At the time, I was in a shark frenzy about my lost wife and I was dating seven women simultaneously. I didn’t want No. 8. Weeks passed and I thought, “She was kind of nice. I think I’ll invite her to lunch.”

And I did. We decided to meet at Phoebe’s restaurant on Genesee Street.

I liked her even more.

A few weeks later, I invited her to lunch at Phoebe’s again. I discovered that she lived only three minutes from my house, so I told her I’d pick her up in my car.

Again, lunch was a very pleasant experience. After lunch, I got into my car and announced, “Nice seeing you again” and I drove out of the parking lot, leaving her standing there thinking, “What the hell is he doing?”

I had forgotten that I had picked her up and we had driven together in my car to the restaurant. I finally stopped my car when I reached the street and turned back to get her.

These incidents led to about 10 years of companionship, deep affection and travel to different parts of the world. How lucky I was to have had two chances at love and companionship.

4. I Love You! These three words are powerful and they are not used enough. I’m sure that my parents loved me, but they never said so. Neither did I ever tell them that I loved them. How often have you told your spouse or family member that you loved them?

We all crave love and attention. Why not express this emotion openly and frequently. Then everyone feels good.

5. Mr. Goodman Story — Praise I still recall Mr. Goodman who was my 10th grade geometry teacher.

He always dressed elegantly with a gray suit and a tie and he had a deep, booming voice. “Was anyone able to do that difficult geometry problem?”

I waved my hand frantically. “Marvin, put the answer on the board.” I rushed to the blackboard and scribbled the solution to the problem. He looked at me and in his deep voice, he said, “Good job!” I still remember these words ringing in my head.

I adopted this incident in my teaching career. Whenever a student did something praiseworthy, I would say, “Good job!”

All of us love praise. Why not use this phrase more often when deserved?

6. Farewell to Chief Carroway I attended basic training in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve many years ago. The chief in charge of my unit appointed me as company yeoman and company commander. Chief Carroway was very nice to me and I had many perks. When training was over and I was boarding a bus to leave the base, Chief Carroway yelled to me, “And don’t forget Chief Carroway.” I replied in a sarcastic manner, “Who’s Chief Carroway?”

I have always regretted saying those words and not expressing appreciation for how well he treated me. This was a trivial incident. Yet, my thoughtless remark comes to mind often and influences my behavior.

shut up!” That was the end of a long, happy relationship but the memories from our life together stay strong.

I could mention countless more incidents, but enough is enough.

We are the product of our genes and environments and no two individuals are exactly the same (not even identical twins that have the same genes). So, each individual is special and has special talents. Some individuals are fortunate enough to be able to realize their special traits and nurture them. Others are unaware of their special talents and go through life without expressing these talents. I was fortunate to find where I fit in life and my life was nurtured by my wife, my family and my friends.

My advice is to ponder about your life and try to identify your special talents. Try many different approaches and hopefully you will find where you fit. Then, enjoy your brief time on earth and your legacy will be with people who have known you.

The sample of memorable incidents and remarks discussed above teach us what life is all about.

What we say creates part of us. I have learned that words should come from your brain as well as your mouth. Once words leave your lips you can’t get them back again. I wrote the following poem to express this idea. We are often sorry about things that we said. This poem is a fitting ending to an article about memorable incidents and words:

7. Death faces All of Us

Words

Unfortunately, 10 out of 10 people die, so the risk is very high. It’s not a matter of “Will I die?” It’s a matter of when and how.

My dear wife, Pat, developed lung cancer and spent 10 days in hospice.

I have mentioned these incidents in previous articles in 55 Plus magazine, but they are worth mentioning again.

The chief administrator at hospice told me “She isn’t going to get better.”

This was my first realization that my dear wife was going to die.

Secondly, when Pat was near her last breath, she said to me, “Marvin, please help me!” I hugged her, but felt completely helpless and even ashamed. Why couldn’t I help her when she needed me the most?

The third memory was her final words to me before she died, “Marvin,

Words are sort of fun to use, They also can be strange, Rambunctious, rambling, elevate, Ambitious, stress, arrange.

Words are an important way To tell the way we feel, They help us tell to others What’s fantasy or real.

Words can act as weapons, They can hurt and sting, They can make you laugh or cry, They say most anything.

So think before you speak, Let words come from your brain, For once they’ve left your mouth, You can’t take them back again.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 – 55 PLUS

65

last page

By Mary Beth Roach

John Zielinski, 71

All about the stars — A retired visiting assistant professor at SUNY Oswego returns to the Rice Creek Field Station’s observatory February and March to lead free public telescope observation sessions

Q: Can you share with our readers what those free public telescope observation sessions are going to cover?

A: We pick a weekend near the first quarter moon; it’s the right-hand side of the moon that’s illuminated.

That gives us a big bright object to look at. We usually have one or two bright planets available, like Jupiter.

You can see the surface of Jupiter, we can see at least four of its big moons.

We like to look at Saturn, you can see the rings and some of its moons. There are clusters of stars, there are glowing clouds of gases. So, we usually look at about six different celestial objects, but the moon, the bright planets and the galaxies and star clusters. Every once in a while, a really bright satellite will fly over, and we’ll look at that, but with our naked eyes.

Q: What is it that fascinates you about the skies?

A: Its beauty. The sky is so beautiful. There are all these different types of landscapes in nature. People go out to look at the mountains and the Grand Canyon. People view ocean sunsets. They’ll even takes safaris to Africa to see wildlife in their natural setting. The night skies are another one of these natural landscapes. And it’s free, and it’s there every day, and it 66

55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025

costs nothing to look at. It’s beautiful, intriguing. And you can appreciate all these landscapes, including the night sky without any knowledge of the underlying science. You don’t have to know anything about physics or chemistry or geology to be fascinated by images of the moon or the planets or the stars. Now if you do know something about the underlying science, it then even becomes more interesting.

get from the light from these celestial objects.

Q: Why do you think that the skies capture the imaginations of so many people?

A: They find the sky to be beautiful.

For the first time in human existence, we live in an era of active space exploration. There’s also this cultural aspect that our entertainment often involves space, and we have these active research programs.

Q: What can we learn from viewing the skies?

A: All right, three things come to mind. The night sky and observations of the of the moon, the planets and the stars have formed, through history, the basis for time keeping and the calendar. They can be used for celestial navigation and, in modern times, with the observational equipment we have, the objects that we look at are essentially laboratories where we can study. Various theories of physics, chemistry and geology that you just can’t create in a laboratory.

The conditions of temperature and pressure and density are just so extreme, we don’t know how to do that on Earth. But these conditions are readily available in the stars, or readily available from information that we can

Q: You worked for SUNY Oswego from 2012 to 2021. You’ve been gone for four or five years. What brings you back to do these programs?

A: Running that observatory on those weekends is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done in my life. The adults are just so interested.

And some sometimes, with families, the mothers and fathers are interested and so are the children. It’s just so rewarding.

The two free public telescope observation sessions are scheduled for Feb. 21-23 and May 2-4. For more information on these programs or the Pi Day Total Lunar Eclipse Telescope Session that Zielinski is involved in presenting in March, visit ww1. oswego.edu/rice-creek.

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